Summary

  • Physical copies of Doom: The Dark Ages contain minimal data, requiring an 85 GB download to play.
  • Some fans canceled pre-orders over the controversial physical release decision, potentially impacting sales.

Days before the launch of Doom: The Dark Ages, some fans took to social media to state they had canceled their pre-orders after it was uncovered that the game's disc only contained a tiny amount of data and not the full product. Ergo, Doom: The Dark Ages requires a full 85 GB download of the game to play on all available platforms.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to the 2016 Doom reboot that will delve into the Doom Slayer's origins and his unending war against demons. Along with new weapons such as the Shield Saw and the Reaver Chainshot to tear through hordes of enemies, Doom: The Dark Ages will take players through otherworldly levels like the Cosmic Realm, a Lovecraftian dimension infested with horrific demons for the Doom Slayer to take down. Doom: The Dark Ages is currently playable in early access for fans who bought the Premium Edition. Standard Edition players will be able to jump in starting Wednesday, May 14, at 8:00 PM Eastern.

doom the dark ages Prince St pizza exclusive skin
Doom: The Dark Ages Skin Requires You to Buy a Pizza

Hungry Doom fans can take advantage of a spicy crossover Doom: The Dark Ages is doing with Prince St. Pizza to receive an exclusive in-game skin.

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After news broke that physical copies of Doom: The Dark Ages contained a few MB of data, players took to social media to protest the matter. As reported by Pure Xbox, a Twitter user named DoesItPlay1 stated that some fans had canceled their pre-orders of Doom: The Dark Ages due to the controversial physical release decision. With only a small amount of data on both the PS5 and Xbox Series X game discs, this means that playing Doom: The Dark Ages will require a substantial download of approximately 85 GB on consoles. The steep download requirement is a major problem for users without access to high download speeds.

Doom: The Dark Ages Pre-Orders Are Being Canceled Over Game Disc Controversy

In response to DoesItPlay1's post, several users stated that Bethesda's decision to force a full download of Doom: The Dark Ages was a dealbreaker that prompted them to cancel their pre-orders. The decision by Bethesda not to include the full version of Doom: The Dark Ages on a Blu-ray game disc is part of a growing trend in the gaming industry. With the Switch 2 supporting Game-Key Cards that require a full download, game preservation is becoming an uphill battle for fans and collectors alike. Whether Bethesda will respond to players' grievances remains to be seen.

Despite the controversies, reviews of Doom: The Dark Ages have been generally favorable. Only time will tell how the canceled pre-orders will affect the sales of the new Doom game.

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8 /10

DOOM: The Dark Ages
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FPS
Action
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
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Released
May 15, 2025
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
Developer(s)
id Software
Publisher(s)
Bethesda Softworks
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'I Don't Agree With That' Doom: The Dark Ages Director Responds to 'Woke Ages' Criticism
'I Don't Agree With That' Doom: The Dark Ages Director Responds to 'Woke Ages' Criticism
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL

DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
 

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.

REIGN IN HELL

As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.

STAND AND FIGHT

Experience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war.

DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMS

In his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id's largest and most expansive levels to date.

Engine
id Tech
Franchise
DOOM