Leaked Assets Show What DOOM's Reboot Could've Been (And I'm Pretty Glad It Wasn't)

It’s been nearly a full decade since the DOOM reboot was released, and thanks to some recently leaked assets, fans now have deeper insight into what the original concept of the game looked like. DOOM wasn’t always supposed to be the reboot that it’s known as now, as developer id Software almost made a game that looked like a blend between Call of Duty and Gears of War.

The road to DOOM‘s 2016 launch was a long one. Originally announced back in 2008 as DOOM 4, the game faced a rocky development cycle, which eventually led to production being restarted from scratch in 2011. With this project, id Software originally set out to make some major changes to the DOOM franchise, with one of the biggest and most controversial being the absence of the Doom Slayer. Looking back, it’s intriguing to imagine what the original concept of the reboot would have looked like, and thanks to Reddit user CrispyMaker, there are plenty of new leaked assets to sift through.

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Leaked DOOM Assets Show What the Game Could Have Been

CrispyMaker posted a list of links to Reddit on /GamingLeaksAndRumors. There are nine links in total, each leading to concept art, and while the artwork is beautiful, it’s clear that it doesn’t really feel like DOOM. An array of grotesque monsters that look like something out of Dead Space or The Thing make up a lot of the images, with there even being environmental renderings and a vehicle design. From an industrial factory-inspired level to tech designs and stone statues, the art direction is truly impressive. Despite the eye-catching work, the original idea for the DOOM reboot feels more like a spin-off than a mainline entry, and these leaked assets may help fans better understand why the concept was eventually reworked.

Nine years ago, NoClip released a documentary titled To Hell and Back that offered a deep dive into the struggles id Software faced with the reboot. DOOM‘s developers even discuss how they were conflicted with the direction, talking about how many working on the project loved the design, but it eventually felt too far removed from the original franchise. Game director Marty Stratton said in the documentary, “It had unbelievable production values,” further adding, “It didn’t feel as much like DOOM as I think a lot of us expected.” When looking at DOOM: The Dark Ages‘ medieval gameplay, it’s clear that id Software isn’t afraid of taking risks, but the first plan for DOOM simply went too far in the studio’s eyes.

It didn’t feel as much like DOOM as I think a lot of us expected.

What Was DOOM 4 Going to Be Like?

Instead of being a fun-filled, fast-paced killing spree through hell, DOOM 4 was going to take the fight to Earth in a darker story that’s reminiscent of Gears of War and military shooters like Call of Duty. As a replacement for the lone Doom Slayer punching and shooting through demons, DOOM 4 was going to focus more on military resistance, with humanity’s survivors trying to take on a demonic invasion. It sounds an awful lot like Gears of War‘s E-Day event, and that isn’t the only similarity. Stratton confirmed that the original concept had something similar to cover mechanics, stating, “You were taking cover and popping up and shooting enemies.” In To Hell and Back, creative director Hugo Martin said, “It was awesome. It was more realistic. It was more about the global impact of a hellish invasion.” It’s definitely not a bad idea, but based on the positive reception to 2016’s final version, it seems pretty clear that id Software made the right call, as it paved the way for new DOOM games.