John Romero

John Romero is an award-winning game designer, programmer, and creative technologist whose career spans more than 130 games and four decades of innovation. As the lead designer and a contributing programmer on Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, and Quake, Romero helped invent the first-person shooter genre and pioneered mechanics that transformed how games are played and perceived.

A self-taught developer who began coding in the late 1970s, Romero has been at the leading edge of interactive design — from shaping 3D level design and multiplayer gameplay to fueling the rise of modding, speedrunning, and user-generated content. His work didn’t just shape the game industry; it helped define a generation’s relationship with digital spaces and collaborative creation.

Romero speaks frequently on the impact of his games as well as on the intersection of games, AI, and the future of technology, as well as the increasing relevance of cybersecurity in games — where online infrastructure, player data, and creative systems must work in tandem. His insights extend to the cultural impact of digital media, and how immersive design influences behavior, identity, and community.

Now based in Ireland, Romero leads Romero Games, develops new IP, and mentors emerging creators. Forbes called Romero’s 2023 memoir "DOOM Guy" "...the best non-fiction gaming book of all time.”