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 stormed onto the gaming scene, achieving a monumental milestone as id Software's biggest launch ever with over 3 million players within a week of its release. The game's debut was met with enthusiastic acclaim, celebrated widely across various review platforms. Bethesda took to Twitter (X) on May 21 to share this impressive achievement, underscoring the game's rapid rise to success.

This impressive launch outpaced the previous record holder, DOOM: Eternal, by reaching the 3 million player mark seven times faster. However, it's worth noting that there's some debate around the figures. Superdata reported in 2020 that DOOM: Eternal hit the same number within just 10 days of its release, though these were estimates and never officially confirmed by Bethesda.

When comparing the two games, it's crucial to consider the broader context. DOOM: Eternal launched before ZeniMax Media's acquisition by Microsoft, meaning it was not available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. In contrast, DOOM: The Dark Ages was released day one on PC Game Pass, influencing its performance data. SteamDB indicates that DOOM: The Dark Ages reached an all-time peak of 31,470 players on Steam, significantly less than DOOM: Eternal's launch peak of 104,891 players. Analyst firm Ampere estimates that 2 million players of DOOM: The Dark Ages came from Xbox.

Despite these comparisons, the fanbase has embraced DOOM: The Dark Ages as a standout title in the franchise. Here at Game8, we awarded it a stellar 88 out of 100, praising its return to the roots of the DOOM series with a gritty, boots-on-the-ground combat experience that diverges from the aerial dynamics of DOOM (2016) and Eternal. For a deeper dive into our review, be sure to check out our detailed article below!