DOOM: The Dark Ages becomes id Software's most successful launch ever with 3 million players. Discover how it compares to DOOM: Eternal and upcoming PC-exclusive updates.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Now Available

Historic Launch for id Software

Released last week to critical acclaim, DOOM: The Dark Ages has surpassed all expectations. Bethesda's May 21 announcement revealed the game reached over 3 million players - marking id Software's largest launch ever.

The milestone was achieved seven times faster than their previous title, DOOM: Eternal. However, these figures contrast with Superdata's 2020 report claiming DOOM: Eternal hit 3 million players within its first 10 days. Note these early numbers were estimates, as Bethesda never officially confirmed DOOM: Eternal's launch metrics.

Several factors contribute to this discrepancy. When DOOM: Eternal launched, publisher ZeniMax Media hadn't yet been acquired by Microsoft, meaning it wasn't available on Xbox Game Pass initially.

The newest installment benefited from day-one PC Game Pass availability, impacting Steam player counts. SteamDB reports an all-time peak of 31,470 players - significantly lower than Eternal's 104,891 concurrent players at launch. Analytics firm Ampere estimates 2 million Dark Ages players came through Xbox platforms.

Despite these variances, fans universally praise Dark Ages as a franchise highlight. Our Game8 review awarded it an 88/100, celebrating its brutal renaissance of DOOM combat - replacing Eternal's aerial mobility with visceral ground-based carnage.