Doom: The Dark Ages Marks id's Largest Launch Ever, Sales Figures Pending

Since its release last week, Doom: The Dark Ages has attracted an impressive 3 million players, marking the largest launch in id Software's history in terms of player count. Bethesda has shared this milestone on social media, emphasizing that this game reached the 3 million player mark seven times faster than its predecessor, Doom Eternal, which was released in 2020.

To better understand these figures, it's important to consider the platforms on which Doom: The Dark Ages was launched: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, all on May 15, 2025. Notably, Steam provides publicly accessible player data, which can offer some insights. On Steam, Doom: The Dark Ages achieved a peak concurrent player count of 31,470 and a 24-hour peak of 16,328 players. In comparison, Doom Eternal reached a peak concurrent player count of 104,891, while Doom (2016) hit 44,271, suggesting that The Dark Ages may have underperformed on Steam relative to its predecessors.

However, the influence of Game Pass on these numbers cannot be overlooked. Doom: The Dark Ages was available from day one on Game Pass for both Xbox consoles and PC, likely attracting a significant number of players who opted for the subscription service rather than purchasing the game outright for $69.99 in the U.S. This strategy aligns with Microsoft's broader goal of boosting Game Pass subscriptions. Interestingly, other games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which also launched on Game Pass, managed to sell 2 million copies despite being priced at $50. The higher price point of Doom: The Dark Ages might have deterred some potential buyers.

While Bethesda has proudly announced the 3 million player count for Doom: The Dark Ages, it has not disclosed specific sales figures. This approach mirrors their strategy with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which saw 4 million players upon its day-one launch on Game Pass. Similarly, Ubisoft reported 3 million players for Assassin's Creed: Shadows without revealing sales numbers.

Ultimately, only Bethesda and Microsoft have access to the internal targets set for Doom: The Dark Ages. Nonetheless, the 3 million player milestone indicates strong performance on consoles and Game Pass, despite a potentially weaker showing on Steam.

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