Doom: The Dark Ages 2025

About

Doom: The Dark Ages came out on May 13, 2025 for PC and PlayStation 5, then for Xbox Series X|S on May 20, 2025. On Steam, 88% of 32,937 player reviews are positive (Very Positive). 510 people are playing it on Steam right now, with a peak of 1,208 in the last 30 days. It is Verified on Steam Deck.

A single-player first-person shooter and prequel to Doom (2016). Set in the dark medieval world of Argent D'Nur, players control the Doom Slayer in a grounded, weighty combat style that emphasizes strategic engagements over the acrobatic mobility of previous entries. The game introduces a Shield Saw for blocking and parrying, new melee weapons, and drivable vehicles including a cybernetic dragon and a massive mech. The narrative focuses on the Slayer's origin story with expanded cutscenes and character development.

Story

Long before the demonic invasions of Mars and Earth, the Night Sentinels of Argent D'Nur and their allies the Maykrs wage a desperate war against the forces of Hell, who seek a powerful artifact known as the Heart of Argent. The Doom Slayer, empowered by the Maykrs, is deployed to turn the tide in favor of humanity. However, his master Kreed Maykr suppresses the Slayer's free will through a device called the Tether, keeping him under control as a weapon rather than a warrior. When Hell's commander, Prince Ahzrak, shifts strategy and focuses on locating the Heart rather than confronting the Slayer directly, the balance of the war begins to shift. As betrayals mount and alliances fracture between the Sentinels and the Maykrs, the Slayer must break free of his chains and fight not only the demons but the forces that claim to be his allies.

What is happening now

Doom: The Dark Ages is a modern entry in id Software's flagship action franchise, arriving on PC and current-generation consoles. The game has generated significant discussion in recent months, largely centered on the studio's turbulent circumstances rather than the core experience itself. Microsoft's layoffs claimed most of the team behind the Revelations expansion mere hours before its launch, yet the DLC has emerged as a critical bright spot. Coverage describes it as a substantial combat offering that reinvigorated player enthusiasm after the base game's middling reception, with reviewers praising its intensity and variety. Studio leadership has pushed back against characterizations of id Software being crippled by the cuts, asserting that core teams remain intact and committed to future development. Meanwhile, the game shed its Denuvo DRM implementation, and aggressive sales discounting-including steep markdowns within weeks of the expansion's release-has made the package accessible to budget-conscious players.