See DOOM: The Dark Ages at Developer_Direct ‘25

Xbox’s Developer_Direct ‘25 presentation revealed exciting new details for DOOM: The Dark Ages, brought straight to viewers from the award-winning and acclaimed team at id Software.

DOOM: The Dark Ages arrives on Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC on May 15, 2025 - preorders are available NOW .

Read on for the text copy of the DOOM: The Dark Ages presentation at Xbox’s Developer_Direct ’25:

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[MARTY STRATTON, Studio Director - id Software]

Hello and welcome to Dallas, TX - home of id Software, where more than 30 years ago, a small team of game developers helped define and set a course for first-person shooters. A lot has changed since then but our team is as passionate as ever and the most important values at the core of our games - innovation, craftsmanship and performance - remain a priority for us to this day.

[HUGO MARTIN, Game Director - id Software]

And as you’re about to see, those values are infused in every aspect of this latest installment in the legendary DOOM franchise. It’s an honor to work on this game to carry-on id’s tradition of creating all-out, groundbreaking levels of fun.

[MARTY] So now, we’re excited to share with you a look at our most ambitious game yet

[BOTH] This is...DOOM: The Dark Ages

[HUGO] That was so stupid, I mouthed the words. (LAUGHS)

[HUGO] In DOOM: The Dark Ages, you will feel like the super weapon in the center of a medieval war against hell, set in a cinematic sci-fi/fantasy world full of locations to explore, powerful weapons to unlock and enemies to conquer.

This is a prequel to DOOM 2016, and that's given us the opportunity to re-imagine every aspect of this experience. So if you are new to the franchise, then DOOM: The Dark Ages will be a perfect entry point into the series, and if you’re a long-time fan, then you’ll be proud to see that in a lot of ways, the feel of the game is really a return to form.

So let's break it down, starting with…THE COMBAT. In DOOM Eternal, you felt like a fighter jet; in DOOM: The Dark Ages, you’ll be an iron tank - heavy, strong but still fast. A grounded combat system with an emphasis on power over the acrobatics of DOOM Eternal, and a balance between enemy projectiles and player movement speed that makes strafing to aim viable again, just like in the classic DOOM games.

But it's not about nostalgia, innovation is the goal, always, and so for Doom: The Dark Ages it's an all new world, with new tools and new mechanics to master. Let me introduce you to...The Shield Saw.

Block, Throw, Parry, Deflect - all from one input. It's contextual, tons of depth on a single button press. You know, we want every DOOM game to stand on its own as a unique experience, so in 2016 we asked you to run and gun. In DOOM Eternal it was jump and shoot. And in DOOM: The Dark Ages, you're gonna stand and fight. And the Shield Saw will give you the strength to go head-to-head with some of the biggest, baddest demons we’ve ever created at id.

But that’s not all, cuz if your gonna stand and fight, then you gotta have something to follow up that opening parry with, how about an iron flail? Or maybe an electrified gauntlet? Or even…a DOOM spiked mace? That’s right, we have three melee options that are part of a melee system, all on one input, complete with combos and upgrades and it's totally awesome.

And you can finish off the demons now with an all new un-synced, completely-in-the-player's-control, Glory Kill system - from any angle, in and out as you see fit, and it feels amazing.

You’ll feel unstoppable, smashing your way through the horde with total freedom and that seems like a ton but that’s just two inputs, we got one more really important button, that we haven’t talked about yet...the trigger. That’s right, we saved the best for last.

DOOM has and always will be all about the guns, and Dark Ages has some of the most ridiculously powerful weapons that we’ve ever created. Mean, ancient, brutal torture machines built to butcher, impale and shred the minions of Hell with. "Only in DOOM," that’s the mission statement for the design of these never-before-seen, insanely fun-to-use, tools of mayhem that only the Slayer has the power to wield.

So let’s take a look at some extended gameplay footage and see how these medieval mechanics synergize with the enemies and the environments to form the new combat loop for DOOM: The Dark Ages.

[MARTY] And under the hood, for the first time in an id game, we’ve made our combat more approchable and flexible than ever before with a new difficulty system and sliders that will allow players to tune the speed and challenge of the game to whatever fits them best. You can slow things down, or speed them up - it’s a DOOM for all Slayers.

[HUGO] And the gameplay doesn’t end with just the Slayer. We finally have for you - you’ve been waiting for two games now - your very own 30-story Atlan, which is a mech. It’s the size of a building, it's powerful and you can beat giant titan-sized demons to death with your gauntleted fists. And if that wasn’t enough, we also have for you your very own fire-breathing, Gatling gun-toting, cybernetic dragon.

Neither of these are one-and-done features, either; they have a full suite of abilities and even minibosses. The spectacle is epic, the power fantasy is unlike anything we’ve made at id and the combat systems behind these features are deep and tons of fun.

And as cool as that all is, we know that fans of single-player action games expect more than just great combat to pull them through the experience. So, we are excited to share with you not just the gunplay, but the world of DOOM: The Dark Ages. Your hero's journey will take you to the far reaches of the DOOM universe: mysterious worlds from the Slayer's past, dark forests, dungeons, ancient hellscapes, battlefields and worlds beyond….

And through exploration, you’ll be unlocking new abilities and godlike powers every step of the way. Now, armed with your trusty Shield Saw, you’re gonna cut, leap and smash your way through environments full of secrets and treasures. There’s always something new waiting to be discovered (or destroyed.)

Now, let’s take a closer look at just one of the many missions you’ll experience in DOOM: The Dark Ages. In this level, you will meet the enemy at the gates and save a city from certain destruction.

[HUGO] Explore the medieval battlefield outside the castle walls, seeking out targets and enemy formations along the way to engage with as you see fit with any gun you choose. Explore what is the largest play space ever in a DOOM game, discovering secret caves and dungeon-like mines in search of vital resources.

You control the pace of the game, where you go, who you fight and the objectives you pursue. It’s a DOOM sandbox full of war and riches. Once you’ve broken the enemy's assault, head back to the main gates because the battle isn’t over yet!

And the soundtrack to your epic adventures will be composed by the award winning team at Finishing Move providing you with a metal soundscape that’s loaded with guitars, medieval vibes and pure adrenaline. You’ll feel like you’re expanding the legend of the Slayer with every mission you complete.

And speaking of that legend, the story of DOOM: The Dark Ages, like everything else in the game, is big. It’s a summer blockbuster event with everything on the line and you are the star of the show. Your power is coveted by your enemies and withheld from your allies. With the Slayer imprisoned at the start of our story, the balance of power between good and evil is shifting...and time is running out.

It’s a new story and the perfect entry point for new players. It's easier to access now, as we’ve taken the narrative out of the Codex and into the cutscenes featuring new characters, old allies and powerful new villains. And for returning players it leads directly into the DOOM (2016) Slayer’s Testaments; It’s an action story worthy of the Slayer's legend.

[MARTY] We’ve got ten years of making modern DOOM games together and we’ve done better with every game we’ve made.

[HUGO] The hope with all of this – the goal – is to give the players an experience that’s as fun to play as it was to make and make something that’s good enough to become the best game id has ever made.

[MARTY] But that is for you to decide when DOOM: The Dark Ages releases...

[ID SOFTWARE] THIS MAY!