DOOM: The Dark Ages Hits 3 Million Players at Launch, id Software's Biggest 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 the monumental milestone of 3 million players just a week after its release. This impressive feat marks the largest launch in id Software's history, as announced by Bethesda on Twitter (X) on May 21. The game has been met with widespread acclaim, lauded by numerous review sites for its thrilling gameplay and immersive experience.

Intriguingly, DOOM: The Dark Ages reached this 3 million player benchmark seven times faster than its predecessor, DOOM: Eternal. However, it's worth noting that Superdata reported in 2020 that DOOM: Eternal hit the same number within 10 days of its launch. These figures from Superdata were estimates, and Bethesda has not officially confirmed these statistics.

When comparing the two titles, it's essential to consider the broader context. At the time of DOOM: Eternal's release, Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, had yet to be acquired by Microsoft. Consequently, DOOM: Eternal was not available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, unlike DOOM: The Dark Ages, which was accessible on PC Game Pass from day one. This availability has influenced the game's performance metrics on Steam, where DOOM: The Dark Ages achieved an all-time peak of 31,470 players, significantly lower than DOOM: Eternal's peak of 104,891 players. Analyst firm Ampere estimates that 2 million of DOOM: The Dark Ages' players come from Xbox.

Despite these differences, the fanbase has embraced DOOM: The Dark Ages as one of the finest entries in the franchise. Here at Game8, we awarded it an impressive score of 88 out of 100. We praised the game for its brutal renaissance of the DOOM series, which shifts from the aerial dynamics of DOOM (2016) and Eternal to a more gritty, boots-on-the-ground combat experience. For a deeper dive into our review, feel free to explore our detailed article below!