Brace yourself, Doom Slayers. id Software is taking its legendary FPS franchise in a bold new direction with the just-announced Doom: The Dark Ages. Debuting at the Xbox Developer Direct showcase, studio director Marty Stratton and game director Hugo Martin provided an exclusive first look at how they’re evolving the hardcore shooter into a grittier, melee-focused experience for next-gen consoles. Forget what you know about Doom – The Dark Ages aims to redefine the series with gameplay innovations and enhanced accessibility that will entice veteran demon slayers and novice knights alike.
Unleashing Hell in the Middle Ages
While Doom has always been synonymous with sci-fi horror, The Dark Ages drags players back to a medieval fantasy setting straight out of the most brutal Schwarzenegger flick. Picture Conan the Barbarian meets Army of Darkness, and you’ll have a good sense of the vibe id Software is going for.
“We asked ourselves, how do we top the high-octane, over-the-top action of Doom Eternal?” explains Martin. “The answer was to embrace limitations. Stripping away the Slayer’s arsenal and focusing purely on primal melee combat opened up a wealth of gory new gameplay possibilities.”
Heavily inspired by Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and the movie 300, id reimagined the Doom Slayer as a nigh-invulnerable knight, a living weapon wielded by gods and kings to vanquish demonic hordes. Encased in blood-spattered armor and armed only with shield and mace, the Slayer’s tank-like battle style encourages players to adopt a “stand-and-fight” approach.
Prepare for Glorious Melee
Make no mistake – Doom: The Dark Ages is still very much a Doom game, retaining the franchise’s signature speed and ferocity. But by replacing firearms with weighty melee weapons, every head-smashing blow carries immense impact. The Slayer’s toolkit includes an indestructible shield for battering enemies, an electric gauntlet to stun demons, and a vicious mace and flail to gruesomely dismember the damned.
We looked at a lot of classic arcade beat-em-ups for inspiration on enemy encounter design. Imagine being surrounded by a screen full of demons and having to shield bash and dodge your way to survival. It’s Doom distilled to its white-knuckle essence.
– Hugo Martin, Game Director
Impressively, id has streamlined inputs down to just two attack buttons, plus a dedicated block/parry command. But mastering the precise timing and combos of the Slayer’s arsenal promises tremendous depth. Creative players will discover all kinds of savage ways to brutalize the demonic opposition.
A More Approachable Armageddon
For all its bone-crushing intensity, Hugo Martin emphasizes that Doom: The Dark Ages aims to be the most accessible entry yet. Difficulty sliders return to help players tailor the experience, while new features like layered story cutscenes and shorter level chunks respect players’ time.
- Real-time speed controls let you slow down the action to learn enemy patterns
- Extensive button remapping and compatibility with adaptive controllers
- Bitesize 20-30 min levels packed with secrets and upgrades
- Cinematic cutscenes unspool a grim fantasy narrative
By thoughtfully building in these quality-of-life improvements, id Software hopes The Dark Ages will prove an inviting gateway for Doom newcomers while still posing a stiff challenge for hardcore fans. Based on this early glimpse, they may be onto something special.
Doom: The Dark Ages launches May 15, 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Expect to see plenty more of the Doom Slayer’s grisly exploits in the coming months. In the meantime, keep your sword-arm strong and your shield at the ready. Something wicked this way comes.
