Doom: The Dark Ages has made a significant impact since its release last week, drawing in 3 million players across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Bethesda confirmed this milestone via social media, noting that the title represents the largest player count debut in id Software’s history, achieving the mark seven times faster than Doom Eternal did in 2020.
Steam, the only platform that publicly shares player counts, reported a peak of 31,470 concurrent users, with a 24-hour peak of 16,328 players. In comparison, Doom Eternal reached a peak of 104,891 concurrent players on Steam five years prior, and the original Doom from 2016 had a peak of 44,271 players on the platform.
The Game Pass factor plays a crucial role here, as Doom: The Dark Ages launched simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. This likely contributed to its player count but may have impacted sales figures, as some players accessed the game through subscription services instead of purchasing it outright for $69.99 in the U.S.
For perspective, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, priced at $50 and available on Game Pass, sold 2 million copies, suggesting that Doom: The Dark Ages’ higher price point might have deterred some potential buyers.
Bethesda has not disclosed exact sales figures for Doom: The Dark Ages, similar to its approach with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. The 3 million player count indicates strong performance on console and Game Pass, though it may have faced challenges on Steam compared to previous titles.
IGN awarded Doom: The Dark Ages a 9/10 review score, praising its distinct gameplay style that emphasizes power and weight over mobility, delivering satisfaction in its own unique way.
