Since its launch last week, Doom: The Dark Ages has attracted 3 million players, marking it as the biggest launch in id Software's history by player count. Bethesda announced that this game reached the 3 million player milestone seven times faster than Doom Eternal did in 2020. Released on May 15, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, Doom: The Dark Ages has made a significant impact on the gaming community.
On Steam, the game achieved a peak concurrent player count of 31,470, with a 24-hour peak of 16,328 players. This figure is notably lower than Doom Eternal's peak of 104,891 and even 2016's Doom, which reached 44,271. However, these numbers must be viewed in the context of the Game Pass effect. Doom: The Dark Ages launched day-one on Game Pass for both Xbox consoles and PC, likely drawing many players who opted for the subscription service over purchasing the game outright for $69.99 in the U.S.
From Microsoft's perspective, this strategy aligns with their goal to boost PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. Other games, such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which sold 2 million copies despite also being available on Game Pass, demonstrate that day-one launches can still result in strong sales. However, the higher price point of Doom: The Dark Ages may have influenced some potential buyers' decisions.
Interestingly, Bethesda has only announced the player count for Doom: The Dark Ages, not the sales figures. This approach mirrors their strategy with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which saw 4 million players upon its day-one Game Pass launch. Ubisoft similarly reported 3 million players for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows without disclosing sales numbers.
Ultimately, only Bethesda and Microsoft know if Doom: The Dark Ages has met its internal targets. The 3 million player count suggests strong performance on consoles and Game Pass, though it may have faced challenges on Steam. IGN's review of the game awarded it a 9/10, praising its "weighty and powerful style of play" that diverges from the mobility-focused approach of Doom Eternal, yet remains highly engaging.
