Doom: Dark Ages – Release date window, gameplay and everything we know

There's nothing quite like Doom, especially among recent releases, and the series has reinvented itself as a fast-paced arcade shooter that's not afraid to paint the town red with demon blood. A recent new entry in the series Demonstrated again at Xbox developer direct meetingand this time, Doomsday: Dark Ages Players will witness a medieval carnage as they fight against the cursed army.

A dark fantasy game with an over-the-top weapons arsenal and a metallic soundtrack, rumors of a Doom prequel began to emerge after court documents leaked in 2023, with the game tentatively titled Doom: Zero Year. Now that it's out in the wild and shown off in detail, here's a closer look at everything we know so far about Doom: Dark Ages.

When will Doom: Dark Ages be released?

As revealed during Xbox Game Showcase 2024“Doom: Dark Ages” will be released in 2025. At the Xbox Developer Direct in January 2025, id Software and Microsoft announced that “Dark Ages” will be released on May 15.

“Doom: Dark Age” platform

“Doom: Dark Ages” will launch multi-platform versions on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS5. Microsoft owns the rights to the franchise but will continue to release new entries in the series on competing systems like the PS5. This is a first-party game from Microsoft, so it should be available through Game Pass as well.

Will PS5 Pro enhance Doom: Dark Ages?

quantity Games tagged PS5 Pro Enhanced Edition It's still pretty small, and Doom: Dark Ages isn't currently on that list. Games developed by Id Software are often the best in their class in terms of visuals, and if the next Doom is indeed optimized for high-end Sony consoles, it will certainly benefit from that system's extra horsepower.

The story, setting and characters of Doom: Dark Ages

as GameSpot's Steve Watts reportsBethesda says its aim is to change the feel of Doom again with Dark Ages. Where Doom Eternal wanted you to fight like a fighter jet, Dark Ages lets you be a steel tank holding the line. This is largely due to the versatility of the new shield saw. This piece of gear lets you block, parry, and attack, each function complementing your array of guns. Bethesda points out that this means strafing is once again a viable strategy. There's also a revamped “Glory Kill” that's more situational and varied based on your weapon and the angle you face the enemy demon.

While you'll spend most of your time as a killer slaying demons on foot, you'll also pilot giant mechas and cybernetic dragons. The studio notes that each character will have their own set of abilities and mini-bosses to fight. As we delve deeper into the mission, we see the killer facing a massive battle outside a medieval castle, discovering secrets and resources in an open sandbox. After breaking through the enemy defenses, you can return to the main castle gate, triggering a seemingly huge boss battle.

Dark Ages is strictly a single-player game; there is no multiplayer. “We made this decision very early so that we could really go all-in on this campaign. This is our biggest, broadest, most epic campaign ever and we couldn't be happier with the decision ” said executive producer Marty Stratton.

Doom: Dark Age gameplay

Like other Doom games, Dark Ages' main combat is centered around pure running sensation. Influenced by the original Doom game, the game has a distinct sense of forward-moving energy. According to Dark Ages directors Hugo Martin and Marty Stratton.

“At the beginning of the project, everyone went back and played the original Doom,” Stratton said. “There's a lot of things that fueled us in the original game… It's always evolving, but even with the way we develop and the size of our team, there's a lot of DNA. When we talk about games like Doom ( In development), it very much borrows ideas from the original Doom and Doom 2. As the brand continues to evolve, so do the ideas behind the lore, as well as all the different game mechanics… … It's amazing and when you play the game you're like 'This is unbelievable.'”

The directors also explained how the game's slower-moving projectiles are reminiscent of the first two Doom games.

“I think in the original Doom, in the opening hours, we all remember imps or soldiers firing slow-moving projectiles… and they hit really hard,” Martin explained. “If you get hit by one of these, you're going to be in a lot of trouble… That's where sports come in. Instead of building a multi-tiered arena… if we ground it , slow down the projectiles, make them hit harder and create patterns in the space, and then that's the jungle gym you're going to walk through.”

We haven't seen yet how the health and ammo economy of Dark Ages will work. 2016's Doom forced players to essentially use specific tools and actions to get what they needed from their enemies, and Doom Eternal builds on that idea with an action system, chainsaws, flamethrowers weapons and swords. It's a killer combination of pace and speed, and it'll be interesting to see how Doom's emphasis on tearing apart enemies evolves in the Dark Ages.

Doom: Weapons of the Dark Ages

Some of the best arsenals in video games can be found in the Doom games, and Dark Ages looks set to continue this tradition of shocking firepower. So far, we've seen the Doom Slayer's signature super shotgun, a plasma-firing assault rifle, a rifle that fires railroad stakes, and a weapon that grinds skulls and turns them into deadly high-velocity shrapnel. Officially, this is called the Skull Crusher, but unofficially, we call it our Head Cannon.

Doom: Dark Age Shield

Interestingly, in Dark Ages the Doomsday Slayer also wields a shield in combat, proving that the best defense is a metal-bladed shield saw that can be hurled through demons like a bloodthirsty version of Captain America. Not only can you use your shield to block attacks and push away enemy fire, but when you time it right, you can even parry enemies. In the brief snippets of gameplay we've seen so far, the Doom Slayer throws his shield like a demonic Frisbee through cannon fodder enemies, bounces off walls for more damage, and catches it in one fluid motion, ready to use it Fight against the legions of hell.

While you'll have to wait until 2025 to feel it in action, one enterprising modder has Plug it into the original Doom game.

Can you ride a dragon in Doom: Dark Ages?

Yes you can! While there aren't many details yet, we do know that the Doomsday Slayer will be riding a jet-fueled cybernetic battle dragon in the game.

Can you pilot a Pacific Rim-style mech against a Godzilla-sized demon?

You bet your chainsaw shield can rip apart on a massive scale, thanks to the Atlan mech.

Stay tuned to GameSpot in the coming days, weeks, and months for more information on DOOM: Dark Ages!