Doom: The Dark Ages Becomes id Software’s Biggest Launch With 3 Million Players

Doom: The Dark Ages Becomes id Software’s Biggest Launch With 3 Million Players

Just one week after its release, Doom: The Dark Ages has stormed past 3 million players, setting a new milestone as id Software’s biggest game launch in its 34-year history. The brutal, medieval-inspired FPS is proving that Doom’s legacy is alive and well in 2025.

Released on May 15, 2025, across PC and consoles, the game came in hot following months of hype and some clever brand crossovers—including a Harley-Davidson Doom-themed motorcycle and limited-time GPU bundles with Nvidia. The title’s Game Pass day-one availability gave it an extra push, especially on Xbox consoles.

Record-Breaking Performance

According to Bethesda, the game:

• Hit 3 million players in just 7 days

• Became the fastest-growing Doom entry ever

• Beat Doom Eternal’s first-week performance sevenfold

Industry analyst Christopher Dring noted that over 2 million players were on Xbox, showing just how much Game Pass and Microsoft’s $MSFT first-party push are paying off.

️ Game Pass vs Steam Numbers

Some fans initially worried when Steam’s peak concurrent player count didn’t match Doom Eternal’s launch figures. But those concerns faded quickly once total player numbers were revealed. The slightly lower Steam presence can be attributed to the game being readily available via Xbox Game Pass, redirecting many players away from Valve’s platform.

What’s Next?

Despite early skepticism, Doom: The Dark Ages is riding a wave of momentum. As players dive deeper into the Doom Slayer’s most brutal adventure yet, expect this number to rise significantly over the coming weeks. With strong word-of-mouth, continued support, and possibly future expansions, this medieval FPS has only just begun its reign.

This record-setting launch also reinforces Xbox’s growing dominance in first-party game publishing, joining other recent success stories like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

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