DOOM Executive Producer Marty Stratton and Creative Director Hugo Martin spoke with VGC. In this interview, they described their method of success and how DOOM has stayed relevant over the years.

As Stratton explained, it was partly due to them strategically evolving with the time. This has caused them to make decisions they could never be sure will sit right with fans of the franchise early on.

A part of it is that we’ve chosen to evolve it in a way that takes the heritage and makes it relevant for today’s players. It’s always the balance that we’re trying to strike: is somebody who’s been with the franchise for 25 years going to like a choice that we’re making today? And its that choice something that is relevant for today’s player?

They also admitted it was also because of the “universal” feeling. Everyone desires to be a “badass superhero” from time to time, after all.

I think probably the greatest part of working on DOOM and the reason that it’s stayed so relevant is because what we’ve done with the Slayer and what he represents is so universally fun. The power fantasy of the game, the good versus evil eternal fight against demons… it’s a very universal feeling, of wanting to be a badass superhero. Keeping it relevant for today’s audience from a gameplay and technical point of view… it’s a lot of work.

Martin also agreed with Stratton, though he added that id Software’s legacy plays a role as well.

It’s the legacy of Id Software too: I’ve always wanted to work for id and a lot of people come there specifically to work for us. We’ve got a really, really talented team and when you get that many talented people together, good things are going to happen.

The latest entry to the DOOM franchise, DOOM Eternal, is coming November 22, 2019. It will be available on the PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Google Stadia, and Xbox One.