Doom: The Dark Ages Marks id's Biggest Launch, No Sales Data Yet

Doom: The Dark Ages has attracted an impressive 3 million players since its launch last week, marking a significant milestone for id Software. Bethesda has proudly declared this as the largest launch in the studio's history, reaching this player count seven times faster than Doom Eternal did in 2020. Released on May 15, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, the game's success is evident, though Bethesda has yet to disclose specific sales figures.

Looking at the numbers on Steam, Doom: The Dark Ages achieved a peak concurrent player count of 31,470, with a 24-hour peak of 16,328. These figures are considerably lower than Doom Eternal's peak of 104,891 and even the 2016 Doom's peak of 44,271. However, it's crucial to consider the influence of Game Pass on these statistics. Doom: The Dark Ages was available from day one on Game Pass for both Xbox consoles and PC, potentially drawing players away from purchasing the game outright at its $69.99 price point in the U.S.

From Microsoft's perspective, encouraging Game Pass subscriptions might be a strategic move, as seen with other titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which sold 2 million copies despite also launching on Game Pass. The higher price of Doom: The Dark Ages could be a factor deterring some potential buyers, but the absence of sales figures from Bethesda makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.

Bethesda's focus on player numbers rather than sales figures is a trend observed with other games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. Only Bethesda and Microsoft have access to the internal targets set for Doom: The Dark Ages, but the 3 million player count indicates strong performance, particularly on console and Game Pass, while suggesting a more modest reception on Steam.

IGN's review of Doom: The Dark Ages awarded it a 9/10, praising its shift from the mobility-centric gameplay of Doom Eternal to a more weighty and powerful style. The review noted, "Doom: The Dark Ages may strip away the mobility focus of Doom Eternal, but replaces it with a very weighty and powerful style of play that is different from anything the series has done before, and still immensely satisfying in its own way."