Doom: The Dark Ages Hits 3 Million Players—But Is It Really id Software’s Biggest Launch?

[June 08, 2025 | Earthtechy Gaming News Desk]

If you’ve been anywhere near the gaming scene lately, you’ve probably seen Bethesda flexing their muscles over Doom: The Dark Ages reaching 3 million players just five days after launch. As a long-time follower of the Doom franchise, I was hyped to see this milestone—on the surface, it sounds like a massive win for id Software. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll realize there’s more to this story than flashy numbers.

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Bethesda’s Bold Claim: Seven Times Faster Than Doom Eternal?

Bethesda took to social media this week to proudly announce that The Dark Ages had “hit 3 million players seven times faster than Doom Eternal.” Now that’s a serious claim—especially if you’re familiar with the impressive launch performance of Eternal back in 2020.

Here’s the thing: according to SuperData, Doom Eternal reached 3 million players in just 10 days. If Bethesda posted this victory tweet exactly five days after The Dark Ages went live on May 15, that puts its milestone at half the time, not seven times faster. That discrepancy is already raising eyebrows across the community and media alike. Video Games Chronicle was among the first to call out the math mismatch—and I’ve got to agree, something doesn’t quite add up.

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Steam Stats Say Otherwise

Let’s talk numbers, because they don’t lie—at least not on Steam. According to publicly available data, Doom: The Dark Ages peaked at around 31,470 concurrent players on Steam shortly after launch. For context, Doom Eternal managed a peak of 104,891, and even Doom (2016) reached 44,271.

Now, I get it—Steam isn’t the whole picture. Especially when you factor in Game Pass, where the game launched day one. But still, these numbers offer a glimpse into overall momentum. For a game that’s supposedly breaking records left and right, the Doom: The Dark Ages Steam performance looks… let’s just say, underwhelming.

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Critics Praise It, Players? Not So Much…

Now, to be fair—Doom: The Dark Ages isn’t a flop. In fact, it’s received some solid critical acclaim. IGN gave it a 9 out of 10, and on Metacritic, it sits at a respectable 86/100 from critics, with users also rating it 8.6/10. On paper, those are great numbers. But if you’re someone who really listens to what players are saying online—like I do—there’s a noticeable difference in tone.

Jump into Reddit threads or community discussions, and you’ll notice the feedback is all over the place. One player summed it up perfectly: “If you loved Eternal and its combat, you’ll like Dark Ages, but you’ll probably think it’s a step down. If you disliked Eternal, this one might just become your favorite.”

That divide makes sense. The Dark Ages trades Eternal’s fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping loop for a more grounded and medieval tone—both in aesthetics and gameplay. For some, it’s a refreshing shift. For others, it feels like id Software hit the brakes.

And then there’s the music. Or should I say—the missing Mick Gordon magic. Fans are still vocal about how the soundtrack doesn’t quite match up to previous entries. As one user bluntly put it, “Love the game, but it’s missing that iconic sound that got my blood pumping.”

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Game Pass: The Silent Boost

Let’s address the not-so-hidden factor behind this 3 million player milestone: Xbox Game Pass.

Because Doom: The Dark Ages launched on Game Pass from day one, millions of players got instant access without paying the full $70 price tag. That’s a massive incentive to try it out—especially for casual fans or newcomers who weren’t ready to commit. But here’s where things get murky: “players” doesn’t mean purchases.

In today’s gaming landscape, especially with subscription models dominating, these “player count” announcements need context. Without actual sales figures—which Bethesda hasn’t shared—it’s tough to determine just how successful the launch really is in commercial terms.

And let’s be real: if you already had Game Pass, why wouldn’t you give it a shot? That doesn’t mean you’d have bought it otherwise.

So, Is This Really id Software’s Biggest Launch?

It depends on how you define “biggest.” If we’re going by Bethesda’s claim, this is the fastest-growing Doom game ever in terms of players—but only if you take their word for it. No hard sales data. No full platform numbers. Just one big, exciting post on social media.

That said, I want to give credit where it’s due. The Dark Ages is a well-made game, with a fresh setting, refined visuals, and gameplay that does appeal to a specific segment of fans. But it’s not the kind of genre-defining smash hit that Doom Eternal was.

Until we see concrete sales numbers—or a sustained player base over time—it’s hard to say if this victory lap is truly deserved or just a marketing move to keep the momentum alive.

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Final Thoughts

As someone who’s followed Doom for years, I was hoping The Dark Ages would be a game-changer. And while it certainly isn’t bad, I can’t help but feel like the celebration may be a little premature. Bethesda’s messaging is bold, but the numbers tell a more complicated story.

Still, if you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s worth jumping into—especially if you have Game Pass. Just don’t expect it to blow your mind the way Doom Eternal did.

Let’s see where the numbers land in the coming months. Until then, keep your double-barrel ready and your expectations balanced.