DOOM: The Dark Agesis the latest installment in the franchise and the most intense game of 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about this highly anticipatedshooter-RPG.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Release Date
DOOM: The Dark Agesmade a spectacular appearance at the Xbox Developer Direct, winning over fans with its chainsaw-shield and infernal demons. We’ve taken a deep dive into this new entry for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC, and here’s everything you need to know.
During a 30-minute gameplay showcase and a Q&A session, the team behind DOOM: The Dark Ages confirmed that May 15 will mark the release of one of the most ambitious games of the year. This beastly shooter refreshes the beloved formula of the series.
Marty Stratton, studio director, and Hugo Martin, game director, unveiled the secrets of the Doom Slayer’s new mission set in medieval times, alongside the innovations and changes that set this entry apart from its predecessors.
Sometimes all you need is a musclebound hero, a three-story-tall mech, a supersonic cybernetic dragon, and hordes of bloodthirsty demons. The introduction to DOOM: The Dark Ages couldn’t be more powerful or spectacular.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Embraces Medieval Hellfire
The new installment is a prequel to DOOM (2016), transporting players to the origins of the iconic demon-slaying protagonist.id Softwarehas placed a significant focus on narrative this time.
While details about why the game is set in a medieval world remain sparse, the team emphasized that players will feel like the star of an action movie. Moreover, no prior knowledge of the series is required to enjoy this installment.
The preview highlighted a strong cinematic approach, featuring third-person cutscenes and a range of new characters to deepen the story. Hugo Martin stated: “You come for the gameplay, but you’ll stay for the story.”
The narrative takes center stage, with the directors promising the largest and most epic campaign to date, complete with an imposing villain and jaw-dropping moments. This focus on single-player comes with a significant decision:
DOOM: The Dark Ages will not feature multiplayer.The developers clarified during the presentation that the lack of a multiplayer mode has allowed the team to go all-in on creating an unparalleled single-player campaign.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Turns You Into a Tank
While the story is compelling, as Martin put it, “we’re here for the gameplay.” And the gameplay brings significant innovations and changes, promising to be as impactful as a glory kill.
If DOOM Eternal emphasized agility and verticality, DOOM: The Dark Ages shifts gears. According to the developers, “It will make you feel like a tank.” This time, id Software focuses on a heavier, more unstoppable playstyle.
Fast movement remains intact with improved controls, but the gameplay revolves around being a devastating powerhouse, thanks to thechainsaw-shield, the game’s major new tool.
This shield serves multiple purposes: it can block, parry, be thrown and retrieved, and even aid exploration by acting as a teleportation device. One demo moment showcased the shield transporting the player across a gap in the map.
While the shield builds on the grapple mechanic from previous games, melee combat takes center stage in this medieval setting. New close-range weapons include a flail, an electrified gauntlet, and a mace.
These weapons pair perfectly with the revamped glory kill system. Instead of predefined animations, players can now execute demons fluidly, one after another, without interrupting the pace with cutscenes.
While glory kills remain a signature feature, the directors explained they wanted to shake things up to reduce repetition, improve player control, and emphasize the new weapons, ensuring the action never slows down.
In summary, the combat in DOOM: The Dark Ages aims to be fun, fast-paced, and accessible, with intuitive controls and new difficulty and customization options to suit all players.
Dragons, Mechs, and Exploration
Combat isn’t limited to traditional shoot-and-slash action. DOOM: The Dark Ages introduces two incredible new beasts to pilot: adragonand amech, both of which promise to elevate the gameplay.
Although the developers didn’t go into detail about how these will work in combat, they confirmed that they will be key to battling enormous bosses and will feature unique mechanics.
For instance, the dragon will enable players to traverse vast maps and fly between locations. Exploration is the third key pillar of the game, featuring linear levels with expansive “sandbox moments.”
In the Q&A session, the team emphasized the sheer variety of demons players will encounter, including redesigned classics like the Cacodemon and entirely new enemy species.
Mark your calendars:DOOM: The Dark Ageslaunches May 15 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5 (with PS5 Pro enhancements), and PC (also on Game Pass), ready to drag players back into hell.
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