There's nothing quite like Doom, especially after the series' recent outings have reinvented itself as a fast-paced arcade shooter that isn't afraid to paint the town red with demonic blood. A new entry in the series was recently revealed, and this time, Doom: The Dark Ages will see players create a medieval slaughter as they take on the armies of the damned.
A dark fantasy game with an oversized arsenal and a metal soundtrack, rumors of a Doom prequel began to surface in 2023 after court documents leaked, with the game being tentatively titled Doom: Year Zero. Now that it's out, here's a closer look at everything we know about Doom: The Dark Ages so far.
When will Doom: The Dark Ages be released?
As revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, Doom: The Dark Ages will release in 2025.
Doom: Platformers of the Middle Ages
Doom: The Dark Ages will be released on multiple platforms, including PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. Microsoft owns the franchise, but will continue to release new titles in the series on competing systems like the PS5. This is a game developed by Microsoft, so it should also be available through Game Pass.
Will Doom: The Dark Ages be enhanced for PS5 Pro?
The number of games that carry the PS5 Pro Enhanced label is still small at the moment, and Doom: The Dark Ages isn't on that list yet. Games developed by id Software are typically among the best in their class when it comes to graphics, and the next Doom could certainly benefit from the extra power of that system if it's optimized for Sony's high-end console.
The story, setting and characters of Doom: The Dark Ages
Doom: The Dark Ages bridges the gap between the original '90s games and the 2010s games Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal. Based on the stories of the previous games, Doom Guy found himself on the world of Argent D'Nur, home of the Night Sentinels, and was forced to fight in gladiatorial arenas after being enslaved. After proving his worth in combat, the Doom Slayer joined the Night Sentinels, just in time for Hell's invasion of Argent D'Nur.
This is where The Dark Ages has the potential to tell one of the most exciting chapters in the Doom saga, as legend has it that Doom Guy was empowered by Maykr technology in a last-ditch effort to stop the armies of Hell. After the Night Sentinels discovered that they had ultimately been betrayed by the Maykrs, who sided with Hell so they could use the conflict to generate Argent Energy, the warriors and Doom Guy embarked on a suicide mission into Hell to stop the Maykrs' plans.
What we do know is that only Doom Guy survived, spending an eternity in Hell and becoming the Doom Slayer of legend.
Doom: The Dark Ages game
As in other Doom games, The Dark Ages' core combat is essentially run-and-gun action. The game has a distinct, forward-thinking energy, influenced by the original Doom games, according to The Dark Ages directors Hugo Martin and Marty Stratton.
“At the beginning of the project, everyone goes back and plays the original Doom,” Stratton said. “There was so much in that original game that just fueled us… It’s still that evolution, but there’s so much DNA, even with the way we develop and the size of our team. When we were talking about what Doom is [in development]It was kind of like borrowing ideas from the original Doom and Doom 2 games. As the brand evolved and the ideas throughout the story and all the different game mechanics evolved… it's amazing when you play the game, you're just like, “This is amazing.”
The directors also explained how this game's slower projectiles are reminiscent of the first two Doom titles.
“I think in the original Doom, in the early hours, we all remember the imps or the soldiers that would shoot slow projectiles… and hit hard,” Martin says. “And if you get hit by one of those, you’re in big trouble… That’s where movement comes in. Instead of building a multi-level arena… if we put it on the ground, slow the projectiles down, make them hit a lot harder, and create patterns in the space, then that’s the jungle that you’re going to be moving through.”
What we haven't seen yet is how The Dark Ages' health and ammo economy will work. Doom, released in 2016, required players to use specific tools and moves to harvest what they needed from their enemies, and Doom Eternal built on that idea with an action system, chainsaws, flamethrowers, and swords. It was a killer combination of pace and speed, and it'll be interesting to see how Doom's focus on destroying enemies evolves in The Dark Ages.
Weapons of Doom: The Dark Ages
Some of the best arsenals in video games can be found in the Doom games, and The Dark Ages looks set to continue that tradition of over-the-top firepower. So far, we've seen the Doom Slayer's signature super-shotgun, a plasma assault rifle, a rifle that fires railroad stakes, and a weapon that crushes skulls and turns them into deadly, high-velocity shrapnel. Officially, it's called the Skullcrusher, but unofficially, we call it our head cannon.
Shield of Doom: The Dark Ages
Interestingly, in The Dark Ages, the Doom Slayer will also be using a shield in combat, proving that the best defense is a metal-bladed saw-shield that can be thrown through demons like you're a bloodthirsty version of Captain America. Not only can you block attacks and deflect enemy fire with the shield, but you can even parry enemies if you get the timing right. In the brief gameplay footage we've seen so far, the Doom Slayer throws the shield like a demonic frisbee through cannon fodder enemies, ricochets off a wall to do even more damage, and catches it in one fluid motion, readying it to be used against the legions of Hell.
Although we'll have to wait until 2025 to see what this looks like in action, one enterprising modder has already inserted it into the original Doom game.
Can you ride a dragon in Doom: The Dark Ages?
Of course! While there aren't many details on it yet, we do know that the Doom Slayer will be riding a reactor-powered cybernetic war dragon in the game.
Can you pilot a Pacific Rim-style mecha against Godzilla-sized demons?
You bet your chainsaw shield you can rip and tear on a titanic scale, thanks to the Atlan mech.
Check GameSpot regularly for more on Doom: The Dark Ages in the days, weeks, and months ahead!