DOOM: Dark Ages Pre-Orders Dropped Over Physical Copy Snub

DOOM: The Dark Ages players are revolting against pre-orders after discovering the physical disc contains a mere 85MB of data. Dive deeper into the physical release debacle and learn how to unlock exclusive in-game cosmetics.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Pre-Launch Developments

Community Backlash Over Physical Copies

Gamers are abandoning their DOOM: The Dark Ages pre-orders en masse upon realizing the physical edition requires downloading 80+GB despite containing a game disc. This controversy emerged when retailers accidentally shipped units before the official street date.

Prominent game preservation advocate @DoesItPlay1 sparked discussions on Twitter/X about this botched physical release, noting widespread pre-order cancellations. Their account specializes in evaluating whether modern games maintain full functionality offline - something DOOM: The Dark Ages fails to deliver, requiring mandatory online updates.

The outcry mobilized the gaming community to voice criticisms about Bethesda's controversial approach. Many players expressed their frustration, with countless switching to waiting for the digital version. Physical edition enthusiasts particularly lamented how the internet requirement undermines true game ownership.

Despite the controversy, early adopters posting on Reddit praised the game's quality. Game8's review scored DOOM: The Dark Ages 88/100 for revitalizing the franchise with visceral, grounded combat distinct from DOOM (2016) and Eternal's aerial mechanics. For our complete review analysis, explore our detailed coverage!