A recent leak suggests that gamers might see Doom: The Dark Ages hitting the shelves by May 2025. This title has quickly become one of the most anticipated Xbox releases next year, especially since info about it has been sparse, leaving fans eager to learn more.
Introduced during the Xbox Games Showcase back in June 2024, Doom: The Dark Ages offers a medieval twist as a prequel to the current Doom series. It’s set to introduce fresh gameplay elements, including a shield weapon and the exciting feature of riding a cyber dragon in combat. The feedback following its reveal was overwhelmingly positive, with players thrilled about the new direction for the franchise.
Fast forward to now, and the leaker known as eXtas1s has hinted that Microsoft plans to feature Doom: The Dark Ages during its upcoming Xbox Developer Direct event in January 2025. They speculate that the game’s launch will be officially slated for May 2025. While eXtas1s has proven reliable in past leaks, it’s wise for gamers to remain cautiously optimistic until id Software delivers a verified announcement in January.
Doom: The Dark Ages Is Rumored to Be Released in May 2025
Some lucky gamers at QuakeCon 2024 got hands-on experience with Doom: The Dark Ages, sharing their mostly positive first impressions. Players could engage enemies with innovative weapons like the nail gun, which allows them to stick foes to walls. The event also unveiled two new weapons: a double-barrel plasma shotgun and a single-barrel shotgun. Interestingly, the gameplay deviates from previous iterations, embracing a slower pace that emphasizes parrying with the new shield weapon over dodging.
The game promises to reach a wider audience, being available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. Its inclusion on PS5 sparked some debate. Earlier in 2024, Xbox adopted a somewhat unpredictable multi-platform strategy—some games, like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, were timed exclusives, whereas others remained Xbox-only. Hence, Doom: The Dark Ages’ accessibility to PlayStation users came as a surprise to many, albeit a welcomed one for PS5 fans.
Regardless of its exact launch date, 2025 is shaping up to be a standout year for Xbox. Alongside Doom, titles such as Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, Gear of War: E-Day, and South of Midnight are poised to make their debut, promising an exhilarating lineup for Microsoft and its gaming community.
Doom: The Dark Ages is the latest chapter in the iconic first-person shooter series from id Software, following in the footsteps of DOOM Eternal. Fans can look forward to unraveling the Doom Slayer’s origins with exciting new features and an immersive storyline.