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In the Doom series, it’s always Rip-and-tear o’clock. But instead of shooting your way through the bowels of hell, players are thrust into a fantasy-esque FPS splat-fest of a prequel – one that’ll explain the journey from Doomguy to the all important Doom Slayer. And if that sounds confusing then don’t worry, we’ll explain further on.
Developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks, this action FPS puts the dark in dark fantasy by pitting players against a gritty and grimy backdrop, with towering castle walls and hoardes of demons eager to meet the end of your (rather impressive) big gun. We do not yet know the exact Doom: The Dark Ages release date, but we know it is coming sometime in 2025.
With a brand new setting acting as the backdrop for a lot of explosive, gory fun, expectations are high for the newest Doom game. For gamers eager to jump back in, or even those looking to head into the DOOM series for the first time, we’re going over the expected Doom: The Dark Ages release date, news, gameplay, pre-order, trailers, and more further down the page.
Doom: The Dark Ages Release Date
Doom: The Dark Ages has been confirmed for 2025, but a specific date has yet to be revealed. What’s good to know is that, with the game coming out on several different platforms, the game will not have a staggered release – the game will be out on all platforms at the same time. Goodbye exclusivity! You won’t be missed.
We’ll update you with the latest information regarding the Doom: The Dark Ages release date as soon as it is revealed. Estimates position the potential release window in Q2 2025, and this is backed up by the fact that Doom (2016) debuted in May of that year, with Doom Eternal releasing in March 2020. We may not be waiting too long after all, but this is purely speculation.
Doom: The Dark Ages Pre-Orders
Currently, Doom: The Dark Ages pre-orders are not active. With id Software’s newest Doom game only announced in June 2024, and a release date not yet confirmed, it’s no surprise that players cannot actively pre-order the game just yet. If we were to speculate when to expect pre-orders, we’d assume it to be sometime in late 2024, or early 2025.
That said, Doom: The Dark Ages is available on the Xbox, Steam and PlayStation store, so players can show the developers their interest in the game by putting it on their wishlist. If you want to nab the game and follow it throughout its release cycle, we recommend doing so by wishlisting it.
A Doom: The Dark Ages collector’s edition has also not been confirmed, but considering previous Doom games did feature one, we speculate it will likely be revealed as the game’s release date approaches. All should be revealed in time.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Price
The Doom: The Dark Ages price has yet to be confirmed. As the game was only revealed in June 2024, we suspect the price will not be revealed until it gets closer to the game’s release date. Considering that The Game Awards is still upcoming, we speculate that Doom: The Dark Ages could have a price reveal sometime around them, with perhaps an official release date for the game, too.
Of course, if we are to speculate how much Doom: The Dark Ages costs, then we would estimate it to be around $60 to $70, given current industry trends. This is based on the fact that Bethesda and id Software typically create AAA games, all of which are extremely costly to make. Coupled with the fact that games have become more expensive, a price below $50 seems highly unlikely.
We can also look to similar upcoming Xbox Series X games to gauge the potential Doom: The Dark Ages price. We’ll update you as soon as we find out more.
Doom: The Dark Ages Platforms
Confirmed Doom: The Dark Ages platforms are Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. That’s right; you’ll be able to blast demons’ heads off with a shotgun on all consoles, and better yet? If you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, the game will be available on Game Pass at launch. You love to hear it.
As far as we know, Doom: The Dark Ages will not available on the Nintendo Switch, nor the Nintendo Switch OLED. That said, if the Nintendo Switch 2 truly is on the way, it isn’t too out of this world to wonder if the game will eventually appear on Nintendo’s upcoming console. It also rules out the PS4 and Xbox One which are now 11 years old.
Doom: The Dark Ages Trailers
The first Doom: The Dark Ages trailer was shown on June 9, 2024, during Summer Games Fest at the Xbox Games Showcase.
This is the first and only trailer for the new Doom game, but it already sets up the setting and premise nicely. For one thing, the trailer opens by telling us that before Doom Slayer was a hero, he was first and foremost a “super weapon of gods and kings.” Sounds gnarly.
The Doom: The Dark Ages trailer quickly cuts to a shot of a castle, with flying, winged demons jutting to and fro and uncontrollable fires sweeping through the battlements. Despite the fantasy setting the game is going for, there seem to be futuristic turrets on some of the rooftops, which isn’t too surprising considering the fact you can use the skulls of your dead enemies as ammo for your gun. After all, the line between fantasy and sci-fi is a thin one.
The Doom Slayer is shown on some sort of ship, where he is given his trusty shotgun and a wooden, circular shield. Then he is teleported to the ground in the form of a missile that explodes, revealing a Doom Guy who is very much ready to shoot first and ask questions later.
Doom: The Dark Ages gameplay is highlighted as being the same familiar first-person of previous Doom games, though this time around, gamers will be trailing through forests, swamps, and other dark, grungy areas.
The Xbox Games Showcase trailer’s most exciting feature, however, is Doom Guy’s incredible shield. Not only can it prevent laser beams and other projectiles, but it can also be used as a weapon itself thanks to the sharp, saw-like teeth that pop out from around the shield’s sides. It looks pretty amazing.
The trailer concludes with a quick look at some of the creatures gamers will encounter, the most memorable being a large dragon with futuristic, high-tech wings.
Doom: The Dark Ages System Requirements
Currently, there are no details about Doom: The Dark Ages system requirements to share. We will update this page accordingly when id Software and Bethesda Softworks share news about the minimum and recommended specs.
With that said, previous Doom games have been incredibly well-optimized for PC hardware, so we are expecting a similar level of polish for Doom: The Dark Ages on PC.
Even nearly four years later, Doom Eternal is still used to benchmark high framerates with bleeding-edge GPU and CPU hardware, and it looks as though The Dark Ages will continue to push things forward. You shouldn’t need a leading PC or gaming laptop, but we’ll know when the system requirements are revealed.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Latest News
The latest Doom: The Dark Ages news is its release trailer, which was revealed back in June 2024. Outside of the reveal of a new setting and a look at Doom Guy’s brand new cape, there wasn’t too much revealed about the story, with the focus being more on the grinding and metal-heavy combat and the mix of futuristic and fantasy.
We’ll update this page once more Doom: The Dark Ages news is revealed. We suspect that, with The Game Awards on the way, Bethesda and id Software could have more to show off sooner rather than later.
What is Doom: The Dark Ages?
The third FPS game in the rebooted Doom series
While we don’t know the Doom: The Dark Ages story, the game is set up as a prequel to Doom (2016) and follows Doom Guy’s rise from the bottom to the top, where he becomes the Doom Slayer.
Unlike previous game entries, the protagonist will be ripping and tearing demons in a dark fantasy setting with futuristic features. Expect to see your typical sword-and-shield, medieval battlefields, and castles right alongside laser rays, shields, and more.
While this game will explore an earlier period in Doom Guy’s life, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be full of bloody good fun, intense combat, and a level of weapon and armor customization that would make the lowest of blacksmiths blush.
Doom is back and looks better than ever. If Doom: The Dark Ages plays as well as the trailer indicates, then it may just become one of the best FPS games of the 21st century – dethroning Doom: Eternal. Let’s hope so.
The Bottom Line
Doom: The Dark Ages is a return to excellent form. It is a first-person shooter set in a dark fantasy setting, bringing a new breath of fresh air to the Doom series. The gameplay will be as brutal and destructive as ever, and players will witness the epic new enemies that threaten to swarm and take over the world.
But until a Doom: The Dark Ages release date is confirmed, we can only wait for more information. So keep an eye on this page; we’ll update ASAP when more is revealed.
