Hello everyone! Hugo Martin here, Game Director at id Software, and I’m thrilled to share some updates with you from the heart of our team. We’re busy perfecting Doom: The Dark Ages, and we can’t wait for you to dive into the action. While we put the finishing touches on it, we’ve prepared some exciting new gameplay footage for you to check out. There’s plenty to unravel in the video, so let’s break it down—I’m sure you have questions, and I’m here to provide some answers…
### What sets Dark Ages’ combat loop apart from Eternal or Doom (2016)?
At a glance, Dark Ages marries the best elements of both games, but with a medieval twist. We’re aiming for an experience that combines the intricate gameplay depth of Eternal with the elegant simplicity of Doom 2016’s controls. In Eternal, you had an array of actions, each requiring a specific input. Now, in Dark Ages, you’ll have a fresh set of medieval-style maneuvers with fewer button presses!
We’ve achieved this balance of complexity and simplicity by making weapons like the Shield-Saw adapt based on the material they hit. It’s all about context: throw the shield at a plasma barrier, and it’ll bounce off and strike other foes. Against flesh, it’s a stunning tool for demons, while on armored enemies, it triggers an area shockwave—all with a single button.
To paint a picture, think of it as fewer guitar strings but with added frets, which keeps up the mechanical depth and presents new challenges for players. Familiar FPS controls are your allies here, offering a learning curve that’s both intuitive and satisfying, combining fun execution with tactical strategy.
### What’s with the “rings” around enemies?
The yellow rings circling enemies act as falter indicators. Faltering, as introduced in Eternal and Doom 2016, is a tactic savvy players discovered—attacking enemies in a way that knocks them off-balance to potentially lock them down, as we intended. Noticing and utilizing these rings is key in Dark Ages, helping more players figure out causes and capitalize on them. While you don’t need to falter enemies to succeed, doing so on higher difficulties, like Ultra Nightmare, gives you a crucial edge.
### Is there more story in Doom this time?
Absolutely! Dark Ages offers a triad of engagement: combat, exploration, and story—so there’s more than one reason to play. While players seek a compelling narrative in Doom, the story is there to fuel your zeal for combat and enrich the power fantasy. It’s through storytelling that we introduce formidable adversaries, expansive worlds, and relentless challenges.
In brief: Dark Ages begins with the Slayer’s imprisonment, with the scales of good and evil tipping dangerously. In a world plagued by ancient evil, our hero is a feared outcast, his might shackled by the deities he serves. As a prequel in the Doom Universe, it covers the Slayer’s early days with the Sentinels. He’s an outsider, wielding power from the Maykrs, standing as a critical force in the medieval war against hellish hordes.
### When’s the release date?
Mark your calendars for May 15, 2025! We’re thrilled to bring you what could become the quintessential Doom experience. It’s packed with thrilling combat, vast exploration, and an engaging storyline that truly honors the Slayer’s legacy. Expect encounters with epic elements like the colossal Doom mech, Atlan, and even a dragon!
Thanks for tuning in—stay tuned for more updates!
