Concept Art From the Canceled Doom 4 Has Surfaced Online — Some Ideas Eventually Made Their Way Into Doom (2016)

X users Runhob and WadOverdose have shared a new batch of materials from the canceled Doom 4. The collection features concept art that has surfaced years after the project was shut down.

Doom 4 spent several years in development before ultimately being canceled. The project was later reworked into Doom (2016), meaning some of its early concepts and ideas survived and found their way into the final game.

This isn't the first time Runhob and WadOverdose have shared previously unseen assets from the canceled shooter. This latest batch includes enemies, weapons, and various other elements from the project.

Some of these concepts had already been shown by id Software in Noclip's documentary about Doom (2016). The documentary is available on YouTube and offers a closer look at how the game evolved on its way to becoming the franchise reboot fans eventually received.

Following the appearance of the newly surfaced materials, The Verge senior editor Tom Warren stated that the recent layoffs did not turn id Software into a support studio. According to him, a new Doom game is already in the early stages of development, and id Software remains focused on creating the games and technology it is known for.

Runhob also pointed out that the unreleased Doom 4 could potentially fit into the canon of the Revelations flashback sequences featured in Doom: The Dark Ages. According to his theory, the weapons, vehicles, and even the urban environments closely match what was shown in the canceled project.

For most fans, however, these newly surfaced materials are less about lore theories and more about getting a rare glimpse into a canceled version of Doom that never saw the light of day. They also serve as another reminder that parts of its DNA ultimately lived on in Doom (2016).

Recently, it was also reported that a new DOOM game is already in development, with id Software moving forward on the project despite the recent wave of layoffs.

What do you think of these Doom 4 materials? Should id Software have pushed ahead and released the project back then?