Summary

• DOOM: The Dark Ages introduces a medieval twist to the legendary FPS franchise.
• The game will launch in 2025 on multiple platforms, combining gunplay and new melee elements.
• The game explores the Doom Slayer's history, set in Argent D'Nur during the Unholy Wars against Hell.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is set to bring a different flavor to the DOOM series, and it could be a great way to freshen up the legendary FPS franchise. Following in the footsteps of the 2016 DOOM reboot and its sequel DOOM: Eternal, The Dark Ages appears to have all the bloody action that the games are known for. There's also plenty of fast movement and a variety of memorably demonic enemy designs, so nothing is straying too far from the core elements.

The twist comes from the addition of medieval flair, which mixes with DOOM's focus on guns and sci-fi elements to create something new. Diving into the past of the Doom Slayer, DOOM: The Dark Ages equips him with armor that's unmistakably on-brand but unusually archaic, complete with a shield that can rip and tear in addition to its defensive capabilities. The environments in DOOM: The Dark Ages look as varied as always, but fantastical fortresses and dark forests invoke a rich atmosphere of a much more classical flavor.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Release Window

When DOOM: The Dark Ages Is Coming Out

Although a specific release date hasn't yet been confirmed for DOOM: The Dark Ages, the Xbox reveal trailer from the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase locks in a 2025 window for the launch. By then, five years will have ed since the release of DOOM: Eternal, so its arrival is heavily anticipated without being horribly late. The game is launching on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, meaning any concerns about it being an Xbox exclusive after Microsoft's purchase of id Software owner ZeniMax Media can be firmly laid to rest.

It's too early to narrow the 2025 window with any confidence, but with some luck, it might end up coming within the first half of the year. DOOM released in May 2016 and DOOM Eternal in March 2020, so the games haven't been angling for holiday releases.

DOOM: The Dark Ages will also be available day-one on Game for Xbox and PC players subscribed to the service.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Story & Setting

The Doom Slayer's History Could Be Revealed

DOOM is often more associated with its first-person shooter gameplay and rich atmosphere than on detailed stories, but it does have its fair share of narrative elements, and DOOM: The Dark Ages is exploring a new corner of the lore. The trailer refers to this depiction of the Doom Slayer as "the super weapon of gods and kings," focusing on a time before his legend as a hero was cemented. It appears to take place in Argent D'Nur, a setting introduced in the 2016 DOOM that received more context in DOOM Eternal and the Ancient Gods DLC.

Argent D'Nur has the kind of tragic history that could make a DOOM game tick, having been betrayed by an advanced civilization called the Maykrs who willingly handed it over to the forces of Hell. Although it's not yet clear where exactly DOOM: The Dark Ages fits into the history of Argent D'Nur, it's clearly at a time when the Doom Slayer is helping to hold the realm against invaders from Hell, seemingly within the Unholy Wars when demons started appearing through dimensional rifts and endlessly attacking.

Much of the knowledge about Argent D'Nur's history comes from codices found within DOOM 2016 and DOOM Eternal, so it's easy to play through those games and uncover minimal context about this history. Getting to see it play out could flesh things out quite a bit, and it should definitely help to enrich the Doom Slayer's history and show a part of how his legend was ultimately forged.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Gameplay

A Shield & Melee Options Pair With Classic Gunplay

As is standard for the series, DOOM: The Dark Ages appears to feature plenty of fast-paced action gameplay, generally resembling the mechanics and style from DOOM Eternal. Despite the medieval inspiration, guns are still in play, so the core FPS design isn't going out the door. A good portion of the gameplay footage shows the Doom Slayer tearing through groups of enemies in fairly open arenas with attacks that can deal wide-ranging damage, occasionally giving way to more personal showdowns with specialized foes.

The medieval flavor definitely does change some key gameplay elements, however, with the biggest shift coming in the form of a buzzsaw-laden shield. This can be used to offer general protection, tear through enemies with aggressive dashes, and even parry to throw demons off their guard. Mastering this extra element of timing could add another layer of skill and strategic depth, although it may not be necessary to tear through levels. A spiked flail is also deployed at several points, offering another close-range option that points toward an increased focus on melee.

Toward the end of the reveal trailer, the Doom Slayer is shown dodging projectile attacks on the back of a dragon, adding a new take on airborne gameplay into the mix. The Doom Slayer first rode a draconic creature in DOOM Eternal's The Ancient Gods DLC, fulfilling an idea that id Software originally had for Quake before the design of that game was seriously retooled. Mixing DOOM's sci-fi standards with medieval elements wraps back around to the original Quake in more ways than one, and it's possible other Quake concepts could reappear in DOOM: The Dark Ages.

The Quake protagonist was also originally intended to wield a giant hammer, which certainly seems like a viable option for the Doom Slayer's new adventure.

There should definitely be a lot more to see in DOOM: The Dark Ages than what's been revealed so far, but it could be a while before more gameplay or story content ends up being showcased. For the time being, the reveal trailer provides plenty of details to pore over, and the game is already available to wishlist on digital storefronts. DOOM: The Dark Ages is a welcome return for a legendary franchise, and it might be the right mix of familiar greatness and new ideas.

Source: Xbox