"Doom: The Dark Ages' Biggest Launch Ever, No Sales Data Yet"

Doom: The Dark Ages has achieved a remarkable milestone, attracting 3 million players within a week of its launch on May 15, 2025. Bethesda proudly announced that this latest installment in the Doom series has become the biggest launch in id Software's history by player count, surpassing the achievement of 2020's Doom Eternal seven times faster. This success spans across multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.

Analyzing the numbers, particularly on Steam, where player counts are publicly available, Doom: The Dark Ages reached a peak concurrent player count of 31,470, with a 24-hour peak of 16,328 players. This figure may seem modest compared to Doom Eternal's peak of 104,891 players or even the original Doom's peak of 44,271 from 2016. However, it's essential to consider the impact of Xbox Game Pass, which allowed day-one access to the game on both Xbox consoles and PC. This subscription model likely influenced player numbers, as many might have opted to play through Game Pass rather than purchasing the game outright at its $69.99 price point in the U.S.

From Microsoft's perspective, boosting Game Pass subscriptions could be seen as a success, aligning with their strategy to promote the service. Yet, it's worth noting that other games, such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have managed to achieve significant sales despite a simultaneous Game Pass launch. The higher price tag of Doom: The Dark Ages might have deterred some potential buyers, though Bethesda has not disclosed specific sales figures, focusing instead on the impressive player count.

This approach mirrors Bethesda's strategy with other titles, like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which also celebrated player numbers over sales. Similarly, Ubisoft highlighted 3 million players for Assassin's Creed: Shadows without divulging sales data. Only Bethesda and Microsoft truly know if Doom: The Dark Ages has met its internal targets, but the 3 million player milestone strongly suggests robust performance, especially on consoles and through Game Pass, despite a seemingly weaker showing on Steam.

IGN's review of Doom: The Dark Ages awarded it a commendable 9/10, praising its shift from the mobility-focused gameplay of Doom Eternal to a more weighty and powerful style that remains deeply satisfying and unique within the franchise.