In a blistering reveal at the Xbox Developer Direct, id Software and Bethesda unleashed the long-awaited release date for Doom: The Dark Ages: May 15, 2025. This hellish prequel to the acclaimed Doom reboot promises to drag players through the inferno with brutal new weapons, towering robotic allies, and sprawling non-linear levels that redefine the series.
The Slayer’s Deadly New Arsenal
Game director Hugo Martin unveiled the Doom Slayer’s devastating tools of destruction, each designed to force players into the thick of combat:
- Shield-saw: Block, parry, and cleave demons with this buzzsaw shield.
- Electrified gauntlet: Pummel the hordes with electrically-charged fists.
- Heavy flail and spiked mace: Crush skulls with these skull-crushing melee weapons.
Streamlined to a two-button control scheme, the Slayer’s loadout enables players of all skill levels to paint the walls red, while still allowing for intricate combos to satisfy hardcore fans. Adjustable speed sliders even let you fine-tune the chaos to your liking.
Hulking Robots and Demonic Beasts
When faced with mountainous demon lords, the Slayer has a titanic trick up his sleeve: the 30-story Atlan mech. Armed to the teeth, this robotic behemoth is built to tackle the biggest threats Hell can muster. And if the Atlan’s not enough, summon a fire-breathing cybernetic dragon to rain death from above.
A Prequel Story Writ in Blood
Doom: The Dark Ages winds back the clock, inviting both fresh and familiar faces to uncover the Doom Slayer’s origins. From classic Hellscapes to cursed forests and mind-bending alternate realms, each location holds a piece of his blood-soaked puzzle. id Software promises a “summer blockbuster”-caliber story, with the bulk of the lore finally unveiled in cinematic glory.
Expansive, Open-Ended Maps
While not fully open-world, Doom: The Dark Ages’ missions unfold across massive multi-region maps. Labyrinthine layouts conceal optional objectives that enhance the Slayer’s abilities. Chart your own path through the mayhem in a freeform twist on the classic Doom format, as you master these demon-infested battlefields.
An Eardrum-Shattering Soundscape
Headbanging hellraisers need not fear: industry icon Finishing Move has signed on to deliver Doom: The Dark Ages’ pulse-pounding score. With sonic credits including Halo 2 and The Callisto Protocol, prepare for an auditory assault as vicious as the gameplay itself.
Doom: The Dark Ages Cometh
Lock and load, Slayers. Doom: The Dark Ages hits like a Cyberdemon’s fist on May 15, 2025 – and there’ll be Hell to pay. Keep your BFG primed and stay tuned for more blistering details as we count down to id Software’s next descent into madness.
