Steven Spielberg says some filmmakers were "thrown under the bus" by streaming services in favor of raising subscription numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still sounds hopeful for the future of the movie-going experience.

In an interview with The New York Times, spotted by Variety, Spielberg pointed to platforms like HBO Max for drastically changing the theatre landscape. While he sees value in productions made with big streamers, he said "the magic of being in a social situation with a bunch of strangers is a tonic" for older audiences.

"The pandemic created an opportunity for streaming platforms to raise their subscriptions to record-breaking levels and also throw some of my best filmmaker friends under the bus as their movies were unceremoniously not given theatrical releases," Spielberg told The Times. "They were paid off and the films were suddenly relegated to, in this case, HBO Max. The case I’m talking about. And then everything started to change."

Spielberg went on to explain the balance directors, streaming services, and theatres are seeking as people return to in-person outings. When asked about "what kinds of movies people will go out to see vs. what they prefer to stay home" for, the director responded the industry is "trying to figure that out" but he truly believes the classic viewing experience will make a comeback.

Those "unceremonious" film releases Spielberg references are a thing of the past for Warner Bros. and HBO Max. In 2021, the service struck a deal with Cineworld to give theatrical releases a 45-day exclusivity window starting this year. Prior to the agreement, HBO Max packed films originally slated for theatrical releases only into a new, hybrid arrangement that made them available on the platform.

The pandemic took a hefty toll on the cinema experience, leading to the closure of theatre giants like Regal Cinemas. And while streaming may have seen a boon from early pandemic-era growth, the landscape remains complicated with recent Netflix declines and HBO Max library cuts.

Notably, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has explicitly said that direct-to-streaming releases are no longer in the cards for the platform. Batgirl were among the films speculated to be good candidates for an HBO Max release before Warner Bros. Discovery ultimately canceled it.

For more information on the best platforms to watch, check out IGN's State of Streaming Services column.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images

Andrea Shearon is a freelance contributor for IGN covering games and entertainment. She's worn several hats over her seven-year career in the games industry, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Today's FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Site. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any series involving giant robots.

Steven Spielberg says some filmmakers were "thrown under the bus" by streaming services in favor of raising subscription numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still sounds hopeful for the future of the movie-going experience.

In an interview with The New York Times, spotted by Variety, Spielberg pointed to platforms like HBO Max for drastically changing the theatre landscape. While he sees value in productions made with big streamers, he said "the magic of being in a social situation with a bunch of strangers is a tonic" for older audiences.

"The pandemic created an opportunity for streaming platforms to raise their subscriptions to record-breaking levels and also throw some of my best filmmaker friends under the bus as their movies were unceremoniously not given theatrical releases," Spielberg told The Times. "They were paid off and the films were suddenly relegated to, in this case, HBO Max. The case I’m talking about. And then everything started to change."

Spielberg went on to explain the balance directors, streaming services, and theatres are seeking as people return to in-person outings. When asked about "what kinds of movies people will go out to see vs. what they prefer to stay home" for, the director responded the industry is "trying to figure that out" but he truly believes the classic viewing experience will make a comeback.

Those "unceremonious" film releases Spielberg references are a thing of the past for Warner Bros. and HBO Max. In 2021, the service struck a deal with Cineworld to give theatrical releases a 45-day exclusivity window starting this year. Prior to the agreement, HBO Max packed films originally slated for theatrical releases only into a new, hybrid arrangement that made them available on the platform.

The pandemic took a hefty toll on the cinema experience, leading to the closure of theatre giants like Regal Cinemas. And while streaming may have seen a boon from early pandemic-era growth, the landscape remains complicated with recent Netflix declines and HBO Max library cuts.

Notably, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has explicitly said that direct-to-streaming releases are no longer in the cards for the platform. Batgirl were among the films speculated to be good candidates for an HBO Max release before Warner Bros. Discovery ultimately canceled it.

For more information on the best platforms to watch, check out IGN's State of Streaming Services column.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images

Andrea Shearon is a freelance contributor for IGN covering games and entertainment. She's worn several hats over her seven-year career in the games industry, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Today's FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Site. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any series involving giant robots.

Daniel Craig played 007 for fifteen years, but he apparently had more fun on Knives Out.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dave Bautista, who stars alongside Craig in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, explained why the 007 star prefers a good mystery.

“He was really put through it on Bond," said Bautista. “You could feel that he was under a lot of pressure. He didn't seem like the happiest person on Bond, but on Glass Onion, it was the complete opposite.”

Bautista previously starred opposite Craig in the 2015 Bond film, Spectre, as the evil organization’s top assassin. After sharing plenty of scenes with Craig, he’s no doubt seen exactly how playing James Bond took its toll on the actor.

Now, Bautista stars alongside Craig in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out sequel… and it sounds as though he had a much better time.

“He was just so much fun, and he was always smiling and happy and interacted a lot more,” said Bautista. “On Spectre, there wasn't a whole lot of interaction with the whole cast. But Glass Onion was the complete opposite. We were always together. So, I got to know him better as a person and actually see him do his thing.”

Knives Out saw Daniel Craig cast as private detective, Benoit Blanc. As for the sequel, Bautista plays influencer Duke Cody and says the difference between Craig’s two roles is a masterclass in acting.

“It's really a weird thing when you watch someone transform from Bond to Benoit Blanc,” he explained. “It's amazing because I'm always in awe of people who can transform themselves like that. This is why I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to be that guy. As odd as it sounds — because I look like a f***ing gorilla — I wanted to be a chameleon.”

Craig may have said goodbye to Bond, but would he be up for more Benoit Blanc?

“As long as we're having fun and Rian's up for it, I'll do it," he said. “What a wonderful thing to be able to do. I should be so lucky.”

IGN’s Glass Onion review gave it 9/10 and said: “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a bigger, bolder, funnier, angrier sequel that improves on almost every aspect of its predecessor. Rian Johnson plays with an air-tight script that targets the absurdity and stupidity of the one percent while delivering a hilarious murder mystery on the most luxurious private island not owned by a Bond villain.”

Want to read more about Glass Onion? Check out how Daniel Craig forgot his accent in the Knives Out sequel as well as how much Netflix paid for Knives Out 2 and 3.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Daniel Craig played 007 for fifteen years, but he apparently had more fun on Knives Out.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dave Bautista, who stars alongside Craig in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, explained why the 007 star prefers a good mystery.

“He was really put through it on Bond," said Bautista. “You could feel that he was under a lot of pressure. He didn't seem like the happiest person on Bond, but on Glass Onion, it was the complete opposite.”

Bautista previously starred opposite Craig in the 2015 Bond film, Spectre, as the evil organization’s top assassin. After sharing plenty of scenes with Craig, he’s no doubt seen exactly how playing James Bond took its toll on the actor.

Now, Bautista stars alongside Craig in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out sequel… and it sounds as though he had a much better time.

“He was just so much fun, and he was always smiling and happy and interacted a lot more,” said Bautista. “On Spectre, there wasn't a whole lot of interaction with the whole cast. But Glass Onion was the complete opposite. We were always together. So, I got to know him better as a person and actually see him do his thing.”

Knives Out saw Daniel Craig cast as private detective, Benoit Blanc. As for the sequel, Bautista plays influencer Duke Cody and says the difference between Craig’s two roles is a masterclass in acting.

“It's really a weird thing when you watch someone transform from Bond to Benoit Blanc,” he explained. “It's amazing because I'm always in awe of people who can transform themselves like that. This is why I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to be that guy. As odd as it sounds — because I look like a f***ing gorilla — I wanted to be a chameleon.”

Craig may have said goodbye to Bond, but would he be up for more Benoit Blanc?

“As long as we're having fun and Rian's up for it, I'll do it," he said. “What a wonderful thing to be able to do. I should be so lucky.”

IGN’s Glass Onion review gave it 9/10 and said: “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a bigger, bolder, funnier, angrier sequel that improves on almost every aspect of its predecessor. Rian Johnson plays with an air-tight script that targets the absurdity and stupidity of the one percent while delivering a hilarious murder mystery on the most luxurious private island not owned by a Bond villain.”

Want to read more about Glass Onion? Check out how Daniel Craig forgot his accent in the Knives Out sequel as well as how much Netflix paid for Knives Out 2 and 3.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Snoop Dogg is the latest rapping legend to get his own biopic. Dead Presidents director Allen Hughes will helm the new movie about Snoop's life, with a script from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever writer, Joe Robert Cole.

“I waited a long time to put this project together because I wanted to choose the right director, the perfect writer, and the greatest movie company I could partner with that could understand the legacy that I’m trying to portray on screen, and the memory I’m trying to leave behind,” said Snoop. “It was the perfect marriage. It was holy matrimony, not holy macaroni.”

The upcoming biopic will be the first film produced by Snoop’s new banner, Death Row Pictures. Additionally, Snoop is said to be heavily involved with the production, which will include music from his back catalog, and will produce the film alongside Hughes and Sara Ramaker.

“Snoop Dogg’s life and legacy makes him one of the most exciting and influential icons in popular culture,” stated chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Donna Langley. “We met with Snoop shortly after he acquired Death Row Records and had the opportunity to hear his story in his own words. We are humbled to be able to create the lasting document of this singular artist.”

Snoop Dogg shot to fame in the early ‘90s thanks to his collaboration on Dr. Dre’s solo debut single, Deep Cover. Snoop followed this up with his own first two albums, Doggystyle and The Doggfather. He’s since sold over 35 million albums worldwide and has even picked up an American Music Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 17 nominations at the Grammys.

Of course, he’s not just known for his music and has appeared in numerous feature films, most recently starring in Netflix’s over-the-top vampire action flick, Day Shift, alongside Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco.

However, he’s perhaps best known for his roles in Training Day, and Starsky & Hutch.

Allen Hughes is perhaps best known for directing the sci-fi epic The Book of Eli as well as Broken City, while Joe Robert Cole penned the original Black Panther as well as its sequel, Wakanda Forever.

Want to read more about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever? Check out the Black Panther 2 plot from before the film was rewritten and find out why “Namor” is pronounced in different ways.

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Snoop Dogg is the latest rapping legend to get his own biopic. Dead Presidents director Allen Hughes will helm the new movie about Snoop's life, with a script from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever writer, Joe Robert Cole.

“I waited a long time to put this project together because I wanted to choose the right director, the perfect writer, and the greatest movie company I could partner with that could understand the legacy that I’m trying to portray on screen, and the memory I’m trying to leave behind,” said Snoop. “It was the perfect marriage. It was holy matrimony, not holy macaroni.”

The upcoming biopic will be the first film produced by Snoop’s new banner, Death Row Pictures. Additionally, Snoop is said to be heavily involved with the production, which will include music from his back catalog, and will produce the film alongside Hughes and Sara Ramaker.

“Snoop Dogg’s life and legacy makes him one of the most exciting and influential icons in popular culture,” stated chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Donna Langley. “We met with Snoop shortly after he acquired Death Row Records and had the opportunity to hear his story in his own words. We are humbled to be able to create the lasting document of this singular artist.”

Snoop Dogg shot to fame in the early ‘90s thanks to his collaboration on Dr. Dre’s solo debut single, Deep Cover. Snoop followed this up with his own first two albums, Doggystyle and The Doggfather. He’s since sold over 35 million albums worldwide and has even picked up an American Music Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 17 nominations at the Grammys.

Of course, he’s not just known for his music and has appeared in numerous feature films, most recently starring in Netflix’s over-the-top vampire action flick, Day Shift, alongside Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco.

However, he’s perhaps best known for his roles in Training Day, and Starsky & Hutch.

Allen Hughes is perhaps best known for directing the sci-fi epic The Book of Eli as well as Broken City, while Joe Robert Cole penned the original Black Panther as well as its sequel, Wakanda Forever.

Want to read more about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever? Check out the Black Panther 2 plot from before the film was rewritten and find out why “Namor” is pronounced in different ways.

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Sony's revamped PlayStation Plus tier will add more to its Game Catalog offerings on November 15, including The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition and the entire Kingdom Hearts saga.

PlayStation Plus launched its new tiered service back in June, and Game Catalog access applies to the Extra and Premium levels. November's update includes 16 new titles available to active subscribers, with a few major RPG and action titles thrown into the mix.

It's not the fancier Anniversary Edition, but the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition for PlayStation 4 and 5 is one of the bigger titles joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog this month. It's missing some of the new content and graphic updates added in the Anniversary release, but the Skyrim Special Edition is still an improvement on the original.

For those fine with the older upgrade, the IGN 8/10 Skyrim Special Edition review noted: "It still includes many of the original version’s bugs, ugly character models, and weak combat animations, but the memorable world benefits hugely from improved lighting and effects."

Square Enix and Disney's RPG series also joins the Game Catalog library with Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, and Kingdom Hearts 3 — that's a mouthful. Between the collections, that's nine games from the series in total.

IGN has mostly praised the series, giving the original Kingdom Hearts 1.5 collection an 8.5/10, and the 2.5 Remix followed up with an 8.4/10 review. As for Kingdom Hearts 3, IGN said it's "a fulfilling evolution and resolution of the franchise that shows it’s still full of heart."

The Oddworld title is a remake of an older, bizarre '90s platformer IGN thought had "tons of charm." Oddworld: Soulstorm - Enhanced Edition brings upgrades to the original experience, including a new game mode, Toby's Escape, released for both Sony platforms.

The Tom Clancy series will also see additions like Rainbow Six Siege, released in both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint along with The Division 2 join as older titles originally for PlayStation 4 only, but new-gen console owners can still enjoy them on their upgraded hardware.

Finally, space-combat shooter Chorus and time-bending platformer The Gardens Between are being added as PlayStation 4 games, but have their own PlayStation 5 upgrades to boot. PlayStation 4 titles What Remains of Edith Finch, Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain, Earth Defense Force World Brothers, and Onee Chanbara Origin will also hit Game Catalog later this month.

As for the usual PlayStation Plus games added for free every month, November brings Nioh 2, LEGO Harry Potter Collection, and Heavenly Bodies to the rotation. For more information on PlayStation Plus Premium, check out IGN's review on its backwards compatibility performance and our list of every title available in Game Catalog.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance contributor for IGN covering games and entertainment. She's worn several hats over her seven-year career in the games industry, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Today's FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Site. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any series involving giant robots.

Sony's revamped PlayStation Plus tier will add more to its Game Catalog offerings on November 15, including The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition and the entire Kingdom Hearts saga.

PlayStation Plus launched its new tiered service back in June, and Game Catalog access applies to the Extra and Premium levels. November's update includes 16 new titles available to active subscribers, with a few major RPG and action titles thrown into the mix.

It's not the fancier Anniversary Edition, but the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition for PlayStation 4 and 5 is one of the bigger titles joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog this month. It's missing some of the new content and graphic updates added in the Anniversary release, but the Skyrim Special Edition is still an improvement on the original.

For those fine with the older upgrade, the IGN 8/10 Skyrim Special Edition review noted: "It still includes many of the original version’s bugs, ugly character models, and weak combat animations, but the memorable world benefits hugely from improved lighting and effects."

Square Enix and Disney's RPG series also joins the Game Catalog library with Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, and Kingdom Hearts 3 — that's a mouthful. Between the collections, that's nine games from the series in total.

IGN has mostly praised the series, giving the original Kingdom Hearts 1.5 collection an 8.5/10, and the 2.5 Remix followed up with an 8.4/10 review. As for Kingdom Hearts 3, IGN said it's "a fulfilling evolution and resolution of the franchise that shows it’s still full of heart."

The Oddworld title is a remake of an older, bizarre '90s platformer IGN thought had "tons of charm." Oddworld: Soulstorm - Enhanced Edition brings upgrades to the original experience, including a new game mode, Toby's Escape, released for both Sony platforms.

The Tom Clancy series will also see additions like Rainbow Six Siege, released in both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint along with The Division 2 join as older titles originally for PlayStation 4 only, but new-gen console owners can still enjoy them on their upgraded hardware.

Finally, space-combat shooter Chorus and time-bending platformer The Gardens Between are being added as PlayStation 4 games, but have their own PlayStation 5 upgrades to boot. PlayStation 4 titles What Remains of Edith Finch, Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain, Earth Defense Force World Brothers, and Onee Chanbara Origin will also hit Game Catalog later this month.

As for the usual PlayStation Plus games added for free every month, November brings Nioh 2, LEGO Harry Potter Collection, and Heavenly Bodies to the rotation. For more information on PlayStation Plus Premium, check out IGN's review on its backwards compatibility performance and our list of every title available in Game Catalog.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance contributor for IGN covering games and entertainment. She's worn several hats over her seven-year career in the games industry, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Today's FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Site. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any series involving giant robots.

Two years after a controversy over Doom Eternal's soundtrack mixing highlighted a behind-the-scenes conflict between the game's developers and composer Mick Gordon, Gordon is finally speaking out.

In a lengthy post on Medium, Gordon has offered his side of the conflict over Doom Eternal with an account that includes allegations that id Software failed to pay him for half the game's soundtrack, and that executive producer Marty Stratton was a recurringly abusive presence throughout his work on the score and the OST.

For context, Gordon's issues were first highlighted back in 2020 when the Doom Eternal soundtrack was released alongside the collector's edition and fans noted discrepancies in sound mixing between the soundtrack and the same piece in Doom 2016. At the time Gordon pointed out on social media that he didn't mix the tracks in question, leading Doom Eternal executive producer Marty Stratton to issue a public statement about Gordon's work on the game. Stratton's account included multiple concerns that Gordon wouldn't be able to deliver his promised work on time, and ended by noting that they likely wouldn't be working together again.

Now, however, Gordon paints a very different picture.

Mick Gordon alleges crunch and multiple pay issues

He begins by describing being given tight deadlines for final versions of his promised musical tracks — two finished pieces of level music per month. However, he says he lacked direction as to what kind of levels or environments those tracks were meant to cover due to constant development changes and missed milestones.

Gordon then claims he proposed an alternative scheduling plan to management that would allow him to write broader, reusable themes first that could then be shaped into specific final versions as levels were hammered out, but says that Stratton struck it down. This resulted, Gordon claims, in severe crunch for him as he worked late nights finalizing music for levels that hadn't been designed yet, only for that music to be thrown out later when it didn't fit the levels made after the fact.

Gordon notes that all this was punctuated by slow communication from management, him being cut out of meetings about the music, and increasing ostracization from the rest of the team.

That wasn't all though. Gordon also complains of multiple pay issues over his time working on Doom Eternal, including at least one attempt to deny payment because id Software had "changed their mind" and no longer wanted to use the music he had provided, and other delays or deferrals of on-time payment. At one point, Gordon claims he went unpaid for 11 months. When the game and soundtrack finally released, Gordon says he realized they had used almost all of his music, including numerous tracks he had thought had been rejected, but had only paid him for half of it - and as of his post says they have yet to do so.

Gordon also claims id Software announced the aforementioned Doom Eternal OST without ever having made a deal with him to produce one, and ignored his attempts to make such a deal. He eventually approached Bethesda directly for a deal, and through multiple communication and contract delays got one for 12 songs, which he crunched to complete on time. However, Gordon goes on to say that Stratton once again got involved in negotiations, adding additional pressure to finish quickly and revealing that audio designer Chad Mossholder had been working on an alternative OST for months. Mossholder's work, which Gordon says was largely edits of his own original score, ultimately formed the bulk of the final release.

"I never quit Doom, I quit a toxic client"

Following the release, Gordon relates that Stratton scheduled a call with him to discuss the negative feedback to the OST that largely involved Stratton berating and blaming him for its failings. Gordon claims they ultimately agreed to release a joint statement and was expecting a draft to arrive in his inbox, when he was blindsided by Stratton's publication of an open letter on Reddit instead, over which Gordon says he was harassed, doxxed, and bombarded with emails and phone calls. Gordon pursued legal action, but claims settlement negotiations fell apart when he demanded Stratton take the Reddit post down. At one point, Gordon says he was offered six figures to take full public responsibility for the OST's failings, an offer he declined.

Despite months of back-and-forth negotiations during which time Microsoft announced it would acquire Bethesda and over which Gordon claims Stratton became increasingly hostile, an agreement was never reached.

"I’ve worked on some great games, built lifelong friendships and worked my butt off in the trenches with some of the best creative minds on earth," Gordon concludes. "I’ve had many great experiences in the game industry. My 'collaboration' with Marty Stratton wasn’t one of them.

"I never quit DOOM. I quit a toxic client.

"Marty couldn’t accept that I never wanted to work with him again, and made his best attempt to send my career into a nosedive as punishment. He resorted to lies and innuendo that fell apart under the most basic level of scrutiny, then tried to bury the issue under a stack of cash."

Bethesda and Stratton have yet to reply to Gordon's accusations. IGN has reached out to Bethesda for comment.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Two years after a controversy over Doom Eternal's soundtrack mixing highlighted a behind-the-scenes conflict between the game's developers and composer Mick Gordon, Gordon is finally speaking out.

In a lengthy post on Medium, Gordon has offered his side of the conflict over Doom Eternal with an account that includes allegations that id Software failed to pay him for half the game's soundtrack, and that executive producer Marty Stratton was a recurringly abusive presence throughout his work on the score and the OST.

For context, Gordon's issues were first highlighted back in 2020 when the Doom Eternal soundtrack was released alongside the collector's edition and fans noted discrepancies in sound mixing between the soundtrack and the same piece in Doom 2016. At the time Gordon pointed out on social media that he didn't mix the tracks in question, leading Doom Eternal executive producer Marty Stratton to issue a public statement about Gordon's work on the game. Stratton's account included multiple concerns that Gordon wouldn't be able to deliver his promised work on time, and ended by noting that they likely wouldn't be working together again.

Now, however, Gordon paints a very different picture.

Mick Gordon alleges crunch and multiple pay issues

He begins by describing being given tight deadlines for final versions of his promised musical tracks — two finished pieces of level music per month. However, he says he lacked direction as to what kind of levels or environments those tracks were meant to cover due to constant development changes and missed milestones.

Gordon then claims he proposed an alternative scheduling plan to management that would allow him to write broader, reusable themes first that could then be shaped into specific final versions as levels were hammered out, but says that Stratton struck it down. This resulted, Gordon claims, in severe crunch for him as he worked late nights finalizing music for levels that hadn't been designed yet, only for that music to be thrown out later when it didn't fit the levels made after the fact.

Gordon notes that all this was punctuated by slow communication from management, him being cut out of meetings about the music, and increasing ostracization from the rest of the team.

That wasn't all though. Gordon also complains of multiple pay issues over his time working on Doom Eternal, including at least one attempt to deny payment because id Software had "changed their mind" and no longer wanted to use the music he had provided, and other delays or deferrals of on-time payment. At one point, Gordon claims he went unpaid for 11 months. When the game and soundtrack finally released, Gordon says he realized they had used almost all of his music, including numerous tracks he had thought had been rejected, but had only paid him for half of it - and as of his post says they have yet to do so.

Gordon also claims id Software announced the aforementioned Doom Eternal OST without ever having made a deal with him to produce one, and ignored his attempts to make such a deal. He eventually approached Bethesda directly for a deal, and through multiple communication and contract delays got one for 12 songs, which he crunched to complete on time. However, Gordon goes on to say that Stratton once again got involved in negotiations, adding additional pressure to finish quickly and revealing that audio designer Chad Mossholder had been working on an alternative OST for months. Mossholder's work, which Gordon says was largely edits of his own original score, ultimately formed the bulk of the final release.

"I never quit Doom, I quit a toxic client"

Following the release, Gordon relates that Stratton scheduled a call with him to discuss the negative feedback to the OST that largely involved Stratton berating and blaming him for its failings. Gordon claims they ultimately agreed to release a joint statement and was expecting a draft to arrive in his inbox, when he was blindsided by Stratton's publication of an open letter on Reddit instead, over which Gordon says he was harassed, doxxed, and bombarded with emails and phone calls. Gordon pursued legal action, but claims settlement negotiations fell apart when he demanded Stratton take the Reddit post down. At one point, Gordon says he was offered six figures to take full public responsibility for the OST's failings, an offer he declined.

Despite months of back-and-forth negotiations during which time Microsoft announced it would acquire Bethesda and over which Gordon claims Stratton became increasingly hostile, an agreement was never reached.

"I’ve worked on some great games, built lifelong friendships and worked my butt off in the trenches with some of the best creative minds on earth," Gordon concludes. "I’ve had many great experiences in the game industry. My 'collaboration' with Marty Stratton wasn’t one of them.

"I never quit DOOM. I quit a toxic client.

"Marty couldn’t accept that I never wanted to work with him again, and made his best attempt to send my career into a nosedive as punishment. He resorted to lies and innuendo that fell apart under the most basic level of scrutiny, then tried to bury the issue under a stack of cash."

Bethesda and Stratton have yet to reply to Gordon's accusations. IGN has reached out to Bethesda for comment.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.