Doom creator id Software used Taiwanese pirates to help distribute the game, John Romero reveals
During the 1980s and early 1990s, id Software adopted the Shareware business model for distributing games like Wolfenstein and Doom. Under this model, the first portion of a game was released for free, with players able to purchase the complete version directly from the company.
John Romero, the legendary co-founder of id Software, recently revealed that the company took an unconventional approach to expanding Doom’s reach: collaborating with Taiwanese pirates. During the Shareware era, piracy was endemic because nothing technically prevented pirates from copying and reselling free Shareware versions as their own. This led to the emergence of a thriving cottage industry around bootleg game distribution.
Romero’s revelation sheds light on an often overlooked chapter in gaming history, where distribution channels were far less regulated than today. Rather than viewing Taiwanese pirates as purely adversarial, id Software apparently recognized that their distribution network could help spread Doom to audiences who might not otherwise have access to it through official channels.
This partnership exemplifies the pragmatic approach to piracy that existed before digital distribution and DRM technologies became standard. For id Software, the pirates’ willingness to distribute copies—even if unofficial—aligned with the company’s goal of maximizing Doom’s exposure, which ultimately contributed to the game becoming one of the most influential titles in gaming history.