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

DOOM: The Dark Ages is Out Now!

Biggest Launch in id Software’s History

DOOM: The Dark Ages has stormed into the gaming world with an unprecedented launch, achieving over 3 million players within a week of its release. This milestone marks the largest launch in id Software's history, as announced by Bethesda on May 21 via a post on Twitter (X). The game has received widespread acclaim and high scores from numerous review sites, cementing its place as a significant entry in the DOOM franchise.

The speed at which DOOM: The Dark Ages reached this impressive figure is noteworthy. It achieved the 3 million player milestone 7 times faster than its predecessor, DOOM: Eternal. However, it's essential to consider some context: Superdata reported in 2020 that DOOM: Eternal hit 3 million players within 10 days of its launch. It's worth mentioning that these were estimated figures, and Bethesda has not officially confirmed these numbers.

When comparing the two games, broader market conditions must also be considered. At the time of DOOM: Eternal's release, ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, had not yet been acquired by Microsoft. As a result, DOOM: Eternal was not available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. In contrast, DOOM: The Dark Ages is immediately accessible on PC Game Pass, which has undoubtedly influenced its player numbers and distribution across different platforms.

While DOOM: The Dark Ages boasts a significant player base, its peak concurrent players on Steam reached 31,470, which is considerably lower than DOOM: Eternal's launch peak of 104,891. Analyst firm Ampere estimates that 2 million of DOOM: The Dark Ages' players are from Xbox, showcasing the impact of its availability on Xbox Game Pass.

Despite these statistics, the reception among fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Here at Game8, we've given DOOM: The Dark Ages a score of 88 out of 100. The game successfully revives the DOOM series with a brutal, gritty combat experience, shifting away from the aerial dynamics seen in DOOM (2016) and Eternal. For a deeper dive into our review, feel free to explore our detailed article below!