Doom: The Dark Ages Marks id's Largest Launch, Sales Data Pending

Since its launch last week, Doom: The Dark Ages has attracted 3 million players, marking a significant milestone as the biggest launch in id Software's history by player count. Bethesda has highlighted that this game reached 3 million players seven times faster than its predecessor, Doom Eternal, which was released in 2020. This impressive feat underscores the game's appeal across various platforms.

Doom: The Dark Ages was released on May 15, 2025, and is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. While Steam provides public player data, offering a glimpse into the game's performance, it's essential to consider the broader context. On Steam, Doom: The Dark Ages achieved a peak concurrent player count of 31,470, with a 24-hour peak of 16,328 players. In comparison, Doom Eternal reached a peak of 104,891 players, and the 2016 Doom hit 44,271 at its peak. These numbers suggest that The Dark Ages may have faced challenges on Steam relative to its predecessors.

The impact of Game Pass cannot be overlooked. Doom: The Dark Ages launched day-one on Game Pass for both Xbox consoles and PC, which likely influenced the player count. Many gamers opted to play through Game Pass rather than purchasing the game outright at its $69.99 price tag in the U.S. From Microsoft's perspective, this strategy aligns with their goal of boosting Game Pass subscriptions. However, other games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have demonstrated that a day-one Game Pass launch can coexist with strong sales, having sold 2 million copies despite being available on Game Pass. The higher price of Doom: The Dark Ages might have deterred some potential buyers.

Interestingly, Bethesda has disclosed the 3 million player count for Doom: The Dark Ages but has not released a sales figure. This approach mirrors their strategy with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which also launched on Game Pass and saw 4 million players. Similarly, Ubisoft announced 3 million players for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows without revealing sales numbers. Only Bethesda and Microsoft have insight into whether Doom: The Dark Ages met its internal sales targets, but the high player count indicates strong performance on consoles and through Game Pass, even if Steam numbers were less robust.

IGN's review of Doom: The Dark Ages awarded it a 9/10, praising its shift from the mobility-focused gameplay of Doom Eternal to a more weighty and powerful style that remains satisfying and unique within the series.