id Software's Doom: Dark Ages Launches Without Sales Data

Doom: The Dark Ages has attracted 3 million players within its first week of launch, though Bethesda has not disclosed official sales figures for the game. In a social media post, the publisher confirmed this marks id Software's most successful franchise launch by player count, achieving the milestone seven times faster than 2020's Doom Eternal.

Breaking Down the Numbers

The latest installment in the Doom franchise launched globally on May 15, 2025 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. While Steam remains the only platform providing transparent player statistics, the data reveals interesting patterns.

On Steam, Doom: The Dark Ages peaked at 31,470 concurrent players with a current 24-hour peak of 16,328. These figures appear modest compared to Doom Eternal's record of 104,891 concurrent players in 2020, and even 2016's Doom which peaked at 44,271 players during its launch period.

The Game Pass Factor

The significant difference in platform performance becomes clearer when considering Microsoft's subscription service. As a day-one release on both Xbox and PC Game Pass, many players likely accessed The Dark Ages through subscription rather than purchasing the $69.99 standard edition.

Microsoft's strategy appears focused on driving Game Pass subscriptions, though comparable titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have demonstrated that dual launch strategies can still generate strong direct sales (2 million units at $50). The higher price point of Doom: The Dark Ages may have influenced some players' purchasing decisions.

Industry-Wide Trends in Reporting

Bethesda's decision to highlight player count rather than sales mirrors its approach with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (4 million players) and aligns with Ubisoft's recent 3 million player announcement for Assassin's Creed: Shadows. This reflects the growing industry shift toward engagement metrics over traditional sales figures in subscription-driven gaming ecosystems.

While only internal teams know whether Doom: The Dark Ages met its commercial targets, the 3 million player achievement suggests particular strength on console platforms and Game Pass, potentially offsetting what appears to be softer performance on Steam.

Critical Reception

IGN's 9/10 review praised the game's new direction: "Doom: The Dark Ages evolves the franchise with a heavier, more powerful combat system that delivers fresh thrills while maintaining the series' signature intensity. Though it moves away from Eternal's mobility focus, the reimagined mechanics offer equally satisfying demon-slaying mayhem."