Mick Gordon Rejects Generative AI for His Music
Composer Mick Gordon told IGN at PAX Australia 2026 that he has no interest in using generative AI in his creative work. He argued that such tools remain limited because they are trained on existing human output and cannot produce genuinely new ideas. Gordon is contributing music to Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 and is also working on the soundtrack for Defect.
Australian composer Mick Gordon is known for unconventional methods. For Killer Instinct, he used a kangling, a Tibetan instrument traditionally made from a human leg bone, for Spinal's theme. For Doom (2016), he sampled chainsaw noises for guitar riffs. At PAX Australia 2026, he told IGN he rejects generative AI, arguing it is trained on existing human work and limited by that data.
Gordon contributed a track to Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2's final boss; the game releases October 14. He is also scoring Defect, a cyberpunk squad shooter from Doom and Call of Duty veterans. In 2027, he will headline RADAR festival, performing Doom and Doom Eternal music live with a full band for the first time.
Gordon's stance may resonate with game music fans and composers who value human authorship, potentially reinforcing demand for credited, human-made soundtracks. It could also intensify debates among developers and players about AI's role in creative work, affecting how studios communicate tools and how audiences judge authenticity. Because he remains prominent, his comments may shape expectations around AI disclosure in games, though actual industry adoption could continue along separate commercial and technical lines.