Robert Caskin "Bobby" Prince III, a composer, war veteran, and one of the pioneers of sound in video games, passed away on June 16, 2026, at the age of 81 after an illness, surrounded by his family and medical staff.
Bobby Prince became one of the key sound creators for 90s games, working with id Software and Apogee/3D Realms. He created the iconic heavy metal and industrial soundtracks for Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, DOOM II, Rise of the Triad, and Duke Nukem 3D. His music largely defined the sound of shooters of that era and became an integral part of the games' atmosphere.
In 2006, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the industry, and in early 2026, the DOOM soundtrack was inducted into the US Library of Congress as part of cultural heritage.
Beyond his industry work, Prince was remembered as a man with a gentle character and a sense of humor. For the last 21 years, he lived with his wife Connie in Tennessee, where he pursued creative projects. Loved ones remember him as a warm and kind person, for whom sharing joy and support with others was most important.