DOOM: The Dark Ages has become id Software's most successful launch title ever, attracting 3 million players. Discover how it stacks up against DOOM: Eternal and learn about upcoming PC-exclusive updates.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Is Out Now!
Biggest Launch in id Software's History
Released last week to critical acclaim, DOOM: The Dark Ages has shattered franchise records. Bethesda announced via Twitter on May 21 that the game surpassed 3 million players - marking id Software's largest-ever launch.
The achievement reportedly came seven times faster than DOOM: Eternal's milestone. However, industry analysts previously reported Eternal hit 3 million players within its first 10 days back in 2020. These figures remain unverified by Bethesda, creating some interesting discussion points.
Comparing the two launches requires context. When Eternal debuted, Bethesda hadn't yet joined Microsoft's ecosystem, meaning it launched without Xbox Game Pass availability.
The Dark Ages benefited from Day One PC Game Pass inclusion, which impacted its Steam numbers. SteamDB shows a peak of 31,470 concurrent players - substantially lower than Eternal's 104,891 launch peak. Analyst firm Ampere estimates approximately 2 million Dark Ages players came through Xbox platforms.
Despite these differences, fans are hailing Dark Ages as potentially the franchise's finest entry. Our Game8 review awarded it an 88/100 for successfully reimagining DOOM's brutal combat with a more grounded, medieval twist. For our complete analysis, check out our detailed review!
