"DOOM: The Dark Ages Launches with 3 Million Players, id Software's Biggest Hit"

DOOM: The Dark Ages is Out Now!

Biggest Launch in id Software's History

DOOM: The Dark Ages has stormed onto the gaming scene, marking the largest launch in id Software's history with an impressive 3 million players. Released last week, the game has been met with enthusiastic acclaim across various review platforms. Bethesda proudly shared this milestone on their Twitter (X) account on May 21, highlighting that DOOM: The Dark Ages achieved this feat 7 times faster than its predecessor, DOOM: Eternal.

However, there's some nuance to these numbers. Superdata reported in 2020 that DOOM: Eternal reached 3 million players within just 10 days of its launch, though these were estimates and never officially confirmed by Bethesda. It's crucial to consider the broader context: at the time of DOOM: Eternal's release, ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, had not yet been acquired by Microsoft, meaning DOOM: Eternal wasn't available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Contrastingly, DOOM: The Dark Ages launched day one on PC Game Pass, which has undoubtedly influenced its player metrics. While SteamDB reports an all-time peak of 31,470 players for DOOM: The Dark Ages, this figure is dwarfed by DOOM: Eternal's launch peak of 104,891 players. Analyst firm Ampere estimates that 2 million of DOOM: The Dark Ages' players come from Xbox, illustrating the significant impact of Game Pass availability.

Despite these comparisons, the fanbase is overwhelmingly positive, viewing DOOM: The Dark Ages as a standout entry in the franchise. Here at Game8, we've rated the game an impressive 88 out of 100. We commend its brutal renaissance of the DOOM series, which shifts away from the aerial dynamics of DOOM (2016) and Eternal towards a more gritty, boots-on-the-ground combat experience. For a deeper dive into our review, be sure to check out our detailed article below!