It’s wild to think it’s already been, what, almost a week since Doom: The Dark Ages hit the scene. You know, that classic shooter we all secretly—or not so secretly—love, and yeah, the third piece in this crazy trilogy puzzle starting way back in 2016. Critics seem to dig it, but I couldn’t shake this odd feeling. Like, the launch was just… quiet? I dunno, maybe it’s just me. Steam numbers weren’t exactly setting the world on fire, so I guess it wasn’t just a feeling. Weird how numbers can do that, right?
Anyway—oh, wait—yeah, Steam isn’t the whole picture. Not when there are consoles in the game. PlayStation, Xbox, all the usual suspects. And you’ve got Game Pass on PC and Xbox there, too, throwing extra numbers into the mix. Dark Ages is kind of a Game Pass poster child right now, or at least, that’s the vibe I’m getting. Microsoft’s all about those memberships nowadays, more than just selling old-school copies. Makes you wonder how much they whisper in those numbers, huh?
So, guess what? Bethesda drops this bomb saying Doom: The Dark Ages is their “biggest launch in id’s history.” Like, hold up. It hit 3 million players super fast—“seven times faster” than Doom Eternal, if we’re counting. Not that I am. Numbers make me dizzy.
Bethesda’s tweet’s all tease and no extra deets, really. But yeah, we have those 3 million including both sales and Game Pass explorers. Analysts threw their two cents, saying over 2 million are Xbox players. If that doesn’t scream Game Pass muscle, what does? Traditional sales sneak in there, too, playing nice with the counts.
If you’re one of those pixel warriors diving into The Dark Ages—or thinking about it—there’s a whole guide saga waiting. Tips and tricks, walkthroughs, the lot. Chapter 12’s Sentinel Command Station has its moment in the spotlight now, but I’m not spoiling anything. Bookmark it, dive in, whatever keeps you on the edge.
