Doom: The Dark Ages release date confirmed — when is the prequel coming?

Looking to be a bit slower than Doom Eternal, The Dark Ages trades speed and platforming for heavy weaponry and brutal combat.

We can't wait to dive into its dark and twisted medieval-themed setting to find out more about the Doom Slayer's origins.

Excited? We bet.

Keep reading to find out when the Doom: The Dark Ages release date is, where to pre-order and to learn more about its gameplay and story. We've sprinkled a couple of trailers into the page, too!

When is the Doom: The Dark Ages release date?

The Doom: The Dark Ages release date is Thursday 15th May 2025!

This was confirmed during the January 2025 Xbox Developer Direct, which showed off more of the game's frantic and brutal gameplay and gave us a good look at the game at last.

If you pre-order the Premium Edition, meanwhile, you can play The Dark Ages two days early – from 13th May 2025.

Can I pre-order Doom: The Dark Ages?

Yes, Doom: The Dark Ages is available for pre-order.

You can pre-order it for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S from GAME.

• Pre-order Doom: The Dark Ages for PS5 from GAME
• Pre-order Doom: The Dark Ages for Xbox Series X/S from GAME

Alternatively, you can subscribe to the appropriate Xbox Game Pass tier and play it day one for no additional cost, though it has recently had its price increased.

If you want to buy it outright for PC, you can also wishlist Doom: The Dark Ages on Steam or pre-order it through CDKeys.

If you're after the Premium Edition of the game, which comes with two days early access and other goodies, including story DLC, meanwhile, you can pick that up from GAME on PS5 and Xbox Series X. If you want a PC copy of the Premium Edition, you can buy it from CDKeys.

Those of you living in the US or Canada can pre-order the Collector's Bundle, which comes with an awesome 12-inch Doom Slayer statue, steelbook and replica Red Key Card.

Which consoles and platforms can play Doom: The Dark Ages?

Doom: The Dark Ages is coming to PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.

It wasn’t a given that Doom: The Dark Ages would be headed to Sony’s machine, given the fact that it is a Microsoft-owned title. Games such as Starfield have not graced the PS5.

It came out in an IGN interview with Phil Spencer that id Software Studio Director Marty Stratton wanted it to be a multi-platform release.

As Spencer put it: "Doom is definitely one of those franchises that has a history of so many platforms."

We’ve seen Doom 2016 and Eternal even get Nintendo Switch ports courtesy of Panic Button, so it’s no surprise then that id Software want it on as many systems as possible.

Perhaps we will see Doom: The Dark Ages receive a similar treatment for the upcoming next-gen Nintendo Switch 2. Given the magic that Panic Button worked on the previous titles; it’s entirely possible.

What are the Doom: The Dark Ages gameplay and story details?

Following the latest Xbox Developer Direct, we now know plenty more about Doom: The Dark Ages gameplay and story.

In an official blog post, we've learned that "In DOOM: The Dark Ages, you are the unstoppable DOOM Slayer. A prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, this iteration of the Slayer stands and fights like an iron tank.

"A combination of momentum and raw stopping power, prepare to strafe past enemy fire, crush their ranks with the brunt of your steel and blast them to shreds with overwhelming firepower.

The Slayer leads the charge into battle with his all-new Shield Saw – blocking, parrying, deflecting and even barreling through the enemy onslaught from a distance with the mighty Shield Bash – all with a single intuitive & contextual input.

"Toss the Shield and it will even come back to you, mowing down lesser demons with its spinning blades, shattering metal and even wedging itself into beefier demons to falter their advance!"

It's worth checking out the game's latest trailer to see its slick, violent gameplay in action:

The gameplay looks to be of a slower pace than the frenetic combat found in Doom: Eternal. There are new weapons to be found such as a flair, Shield Saw and a gun that crushes up skulls and shoots out the pieces. There's even a spiked mace.

Of course, there are plenty of powerful and gnarly-looking guns to unlock and use. It wouldn't be Doom without guns, would it?

There are even vehicles too, the Atlan – a ginormous mech made in the Slayers image – and a Mecha Dragon that you can fly.

Expect bigger levels, too, the biggest the franchise has ever seen. id Software is promising "the most ambitious game" from them to date.

Is there a Doom: The Dark Ages trailer?

There certainly is. Check it out in all its ripping and tearing gory glory down below!

It starts off with a flyover showing the thoroughly decimated Medieval lands, all fantastically rendered by the latest id Tech iteration.

We see the cape-adorned Slayer preparing in a huge citadel, being equipped with the Chainsaw Shield and Super shotgun before being shot down to the surface.

Plenty of combat ensues, showing off the range of environments we can expect as well as the aforementioned Atlan Mech and Mecha Dragon.

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