Summary
Days before the launch ofDoom: The Dark Ages, some fans took to social media to state they had canceled their pre-orders after it was uncovered that the game’s disc only contained a tiny amount of data and not the full product. Ergo,Doom: The Dark Agesrequires a full 85 GB download of the game to play on all available platforms.
Doom: The Dark Agesis a prequel to the 2016Doomreboot that will delve into the Doom Slayer’s origins and his unending war against demons. Along with new weapons such as the Shield Saw and the Reaver Chainshot to tear through hordes of enemies,Doom: The Dark Ageswill take players throughotherworldly levels like the Cosmic Realm, a Lovecraftian dimension infested with horrific demons for the Doom Slayer to take down.Doom: The Dark Agesis currently playable in early access for fans who bought the Premium Edition. Standard Edition players will be able to jump in starting Wednesday, May 14, at 8:00 PM Eastern.
After news broke thatphysical copies ofDoom: The Dark Agescontained a few MB of data, players took to social media to protest the matter.As reported by Pure Xbox, a Twitter user named DoesItPlay1 stated that some fans had canceled their pre-orders ofDoom: The Dark Agesdue to the controversial physical release decision. With only a small amount of data on both the PS5 and Xbox Series X game discs, this means that playingDoom: The Dark Ageswill require a substantial download of approximately 85 GB on consoles. The steep download requirement is a major problem for users without access to high download speeds.
Doom: The Dark Ages Pre-Orders Are Being Canceled Over Game Disc Controversy
In response to DoesItPlay1’s post, several users stated that Bethesda’s decision to force a full download ofDoom: The Dark Ageswas a dealbreaker that prompted them to cancel their pre-orders. The decision by Bethesda not to include the full version ofDoom: The Dark Ageson a Blu-ray game disc is part of a growing trend in the gaming industry. Withthe Switch 2 supporting Game-Key Cardsthat require a full download, game preservation is becoming an uphill battle for fans and collectors alike. Whether Bethesda will respond to players' grievances remains to be seen.
Despite the controversies,reviews ofDoom: The Dark Ageshave been generally favorable. Only time will tell how the canceled pre-orders will affect the sales of the newDoomgame.
WHERE TO PLAY
BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELLDOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.REIGN IN HELLAs the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.STAND AND FIGHTExperience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war.DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMSIn his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id’s largest and most expansive levels to date.
