Bethesda has today revealed DOOM: The Dark Ages will release for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on 15th May 2025. As part of a deep dive into the game's development, ideas, and structure in the just finished Xbox Developer_Direct, it was confirmed this prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal is a completely single player experience, with no multiplayer modes or co-op action. This has allowed id Software to create its biggest campaign ever.

While the game still follows a linear structure overall, the team states it's created the "largest play space ever in a DOOM game", which at times becomes much more of a sandbox experience where you can freely explore large open areas. Go in search of combat, secrets, and upgrades is the mantra from is id Software, as exploration is at the heart of the title.

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Running on id Tech 8, the most powerful engine the developer has ever created, the experience has shifted its combat mechanics slightly. id Software calls the DOOM Slayer in The Dark Ages an "iron tank", facing engagements where he'll "stand and fight". To compare this to DOOM Eternal, the team compared combat in that game to a "fighter jet". With the Shield Saw and "some of the most ridiculously powerful weapons we've ever created", you're supposed to go toe to toe with the medieval demons in the game rather than strafe around them.

The team has worked to make the game feel better and be more responsive than any past iteration, with one example of this effort being an overhaul to the Glory Kill system. In the two previous games, these have been canned animations that lock you in for a few seconds and take away control. In DOOM: The Dark Ages, the Glory Kills simply happen in natural gameplay, and can be performed from many different angles. This, according to the developer, makes combat more dynamic and fluid, to the point where you can finally Glory Kill multiple demons in sequence.

With a medieval soundtrack provided by Finishing Move (The Callisto Protocol, Borderlands 3, Halo 2 Anniversary), the story is a prequel and so anyone can jump in, even if they've not played the past entries. The narrative is treated like a "summer blockbuster" where you're the star of the show. id Software has worked to add more of the plot into the actual cutscenes of the game, meaning you won't need to rely on codex entries as much.

Will you be playing DOOM: The Dark Ages this May? Let us know in the comments below.