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

DOOM: The Dark Ages is Out Now!

Biggest Launch in id Software’s History

DOOM: The Dark Ages has burst onto the scene with a massive launch, reaching over 3 million players within just one week of its release. This impressive feat marks the biggest launch in id Software's storied history, as announced by Bethesda in a Twitter (X) post on May 21. The game's reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with numerous review sites showering it with high praise.

This milestone was achieved at a pace seven times faster than that of their previous title, DOOM: Eternal. However, it's worth noting that there's some discrepancy in the data. Superdata reported in 2020 that DOOM: Eternal hit the 3 million player mark within 10 days of its launch, though these were estimates and Bethesda has never officially confirmed these numbers.

When comparing the two games' performance, it's crucial to consider the broader context. At the time of DOOM: Eternal's release, ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, had not yet been acquired by Microsoft. This meant that DOOM: Eternal was not available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. In contrast, DOOM: The Dark Ages was available on PC Game Pass from day one, which likely influenced its player numbers.

SteamDB data shows that DOOM: The Dark Ages reached an all-time peak of 31,470 players, significantly less than the 104,891 peak players DOOM: Eternal saw at its launch. According to estimates from the analyst firm Ampere, around 2 million players of DOOM: The Dark Ages come from Xbox.

Despite these numbers, fans and critics alike are celebrating DOOM: The Dark Ages as one of the finest entries in the franchise. Here at Game8, we awarded it an impressive 88 out of 100, commending its brutal renaissance of the DOOM series. The game shifts from the aerial acrobatics of DOOM (2016) and Eternal to a more grounded, gritty combat experience. To delve deeper into our thoughts on the game, be sure to check out our detailed review below!