Doom: The Dark Ages Marks id's Biggest Launch, Sales Data Pending

Since its release last week, Doom: The Dark Ages has attracted a staggering 3 million players, marking the largest launch in id Software's history by player count. This achievement is seven times faster than that of Doom Eternal in 2020. However, Bethesda has not yet disclosed specific sales figures for the game.

Doom: The Dark Ages was launched on May 15, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. On Steam, the only platform providing public player data, The Dark Ages reached a peak concurrent player count of 31,470, with a 24-hour peak of 16,328. In comparison, Doom Eternal achieved a peak of 104,891 players five years ago, and the 2016 Doom hit a peak of 44,271 nine years ago. These figures suggest that The Dark Ages might have underperformed on Steam relative to its predecessors.

The impact of Game Pass must be considered when analyzing these numbers. Doom: The Dark Ages was available from day one on Game Pass for both Xbox consoles and PC, likely drawing many players to the game through subscriptions rather than direct purchases. This strategy aligns with Microsoft's goal to boost Game Pass subscriptions, though it raises questions about potential sales impact due to the game's $69.99 price tag in the U.S. For instance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, priced at $50 and also launched on Game Pass, sold 2 million copies, showing that games can succeed in both arenas.

Bethesda's announcement of 3 million players without mentioning sales figures mirrors their approach with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which also saw 4 million players while launching on Game Pass. Similarly, Ubisoft announced 3 million players for Assassin's Creed: Shadows without revealing sales data.

While only Bethesda and Microsoft can confirm if Doom: The Dark Ages met its internal targets, the 3 million player count indicates strong performance on consoles and through Game Pass, despite the game's apparent struggles on Steam.

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