DOOM: The Dark Ages has marked a monumental milestone for id Software, becoming their biggest launch ever with an impressive 3 million players. Dive into the details to see how it stacks up against DOOM: Eternal and discover the upcoming exclusive updates for PC.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is Out Now!
Biggest Launch in id Software’s History
Launched just last week, DOOM: The Dark Ages has been met with a warm reception and glowing reviews from multiple gaming sites. Bethesda proudly announced on May 21 via a Twitter (X) post that the game has already attracted over 3 million players, setting a new record for id Software's biggest launch.
The milestone was reached at a pace 7 times faster than their previous title, DOOM: Eternal. However, there's a twist: Superdata's 2020 report suggested that DOOM: Eternal hit the 3 million player mark within just 10 days of its release. It's worth noting that Superdata's figures were estimates, and Bethesda has never officially confirmed these numbers.
When comparing the two games, it's essential to consider the broader context. At the time of DOOM: Eternal's launch, ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, had not yet been acquired by Microsoft, meaning the game was not available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
In contrast, DOOM: The Dark Ages was immediately accessible on PC Game Pass, which influenced its performance on Steam. According to SteamDB, it achieved a peak of 31,470 players, significantly lower than DOOM: Eternal's launch peak of 104,891 players. Analyst firm Ampere estimates that 2 million of DOOM: The Dark Ages' players came from Xbox.
Despite these figures, the fanbase has embraced DOOM: The Dark Ages as one of the finest entries in the franchise. Here at Game8, we've awarded it an impressive score of 88 out of 100. This game brings a brutal renaissance to the DOOM series, shifting away from the aerial acrobatics of DOOM (2016) and Eternal towards a more gritty, boots-on-the-ground combat experience. To delve deeper into our review, check out the full article below!
