Doom: The Dark Ages has reached 3 million players within its first week of release, though Bethesda hasn't shared official sales figures for the game.
A recent social media announcement revealed that The Dark Ages marks id Software's largest franchise launch to date by player count, achieving this milestone seven times faster than 2020's Doom Eternal.
Breaking Down The Numbers
Released May 15, 2025 across all major platforms, The Dark Ages' full performance picture remains incomplete since only Steam publicly shares player statistics. Here's how it measures up:
On Steam, The Dark Ages reached 31,470 peak concurrent players with a current 24-hour high of 16,328. By comparison, Doom Eternal hit 104,891 concurrent players at launch, while 2016's Doom peaked at 44,271.
The Game Pass Factor
The game's simultaneous launch on Xbox and PC Game Pass significantly impacts these metrics. Many players likely opted for the subscription access rather than paying the full $69.99 retail price.
Microsoft's strategy clearly prioritizes Game Pass subscriptions over individual game sales - though some titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have shown success in both areas, selling 2 million copies despite being available on Game Pass.
Industry observers note that Bethesda's announcement mirrors recent trends - celebrating player counts rather than sales figures, similar to their approach with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (4 million players) and Ubisoft's announcement for Assassin's Creed: Shadows (3 million players).
IGN's 9/10 review praised the game's fresh approach, stating: "While departing from Doom Eternal's mobility focus, The Dark Ages delivers a powerfully visceral combat experience that carves its own distinct identity within the franchise."
