As you probably saw earlier this evening, Xbox and Bethesda just announced the much-rumoured DOOM: The Dark Ages - with id Software's prequel blasting onto Xbox Game Pass next year. We of course knew that the title would come to Microsoft's subscription service at launch, however, we've also now had confirmation that the game will release on PS5 day-and-date in 2025.
This is the next announcement in Microsoft's push to a more multiplatform future, following the early 2024 releases of Grounded, Hi-Fi RUSH, Pentiment and Sea Of Thieves on various other platforms. DOOM is clearly the biggest name amongst this list though - hinting that major franchises are certainly on the table for a multiplatform launch.
DOOM is a hugely established IP on loads of other platforms mind you, so we're not really surprised by today's announcement. Still, it stands to reason that other major Bethesda IP like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout will also make their way to PlayStation once we get around to future instalments in those series' actually coming to market.
What's less clear is the future of some of Xbox's own major franchises and where they'll land in future. The newly-revealed Gears of War: E-Day appears to be Xbox exclusive for the moment, but rumours have been floating around that a similarly back-to-the-roots take on Halo could come to PS5 one day. We await official confirmation on such a Halo project for now, but PlayStation players can safely look forward to DOOM: The Dark Ages on PS5 next year.
What do you think to Microsoft's strategy here? Step back into the Dark Ages and tell us down below.
Comments 27
I think that they should have kept it as least for one year. They do this for business, but the biggest market is PC, anyway.
I await the wailing and gnashing of teeth from those opposed to this, and the cheers from those who are for this.
Xbox giving crumbs.
I have no issue with their strategy. I bet some people will be upset but they just showed the sheer amount of games we can expect from xbox yearly. We hit that point where they are pumping out games regularly frequently, if a couple hit playstation/nintendo its all the better.
Contrary to recent rumors gamepass is clearly still the big focus for them and rightly so IMO.
As expected, they did commit to keep long running franchises on it. No big deal. I’ll be playing it Day One on GamePass and not paying $70 for it.
If they at least released a controller that is on par with DualSense, so the versions have the same controls.
Doom has been a cross platform series for a long time I have no problem with this at all, Xbox has enough studios to still have plenty of exclusives.
so PS didnt let even lego horizon on xbox and your giving them Doom day one....Phil is weak, they couldve make it at least a timed exclusive
@awp69 @BacklogBrad Well, the more I think about it, the more I understand it. They are keeping every single game on Game Pass and that's the important thing for their business and reputation, because now they are the biggest publisher in the world and they have Call of Duty, so it's an immense library of games and IPs on Game Pass and Xbox. We can't ignore how big that deal is. I'm just a little bit surprised because PC is the biggest market, but I guess PS5 sales are worth the reactions because they get 70% of the revenue on the PS store.
Digital Foundry: "Doom Dark Ages shadows textures are slightly more crisp and gun models contain one more pixel on PS5 making it significantly better to play it on Playstation."
@LX_FENIX The day after, "The new patch improved the quality of the bloom particles on Xbox, making it the definitive way to experience Doom Dark Ages." 🤣 The following month, someone at Digital Foundry extremely excited in a video about the 236p 14fps lower-geometry and no visual effects "impossible" port on Switch.
I don't mind it at all... Xbox is giving people choices.
Pay full price on PlayStation or play it on GamePass practically for free.
I'm in with GamePass saving money left and right.
@tho_mi You're telling me. It is getting old having a controller from the stone ages.
Everything except the Xbox gyro. My VR has multiples, my TV remote has it, my phone, Switch, and Playstation, Steam controller, etc. all have it.
@TakeItEasy Doom has a history of being on other consoles. Horizon does not. Key difference.
Mind you, I’m still shocked that Lego Horizon is getting a Switch version…
I don't mind, it's more money for Xbox and I'll just play it via Game Pass
Makes sense considering its 3rd party history.
@Banjo- 😂😂 well done
@CallMeDuraSouka You mean the Digital Foundry joke?
I thought that this actually should have had an announcement stating that this was also on PlayStation 5 on day one. Now before anyone says that this is an Xbox Event and it has no place to be spoken about, this is the first event that Microsoft have had since they started porting Xbox games to PlayStation and they should at least let people who probably tuned in that watched that were Sony fans know what games they could expect on their consoles too! They also should have announced that the new Season of Sea of Thieves was on PlayStation aswell. I guess they will learn with time that they don’t have to worry about making announcements on where their games will end up since this is a new direction for Microsoft, but clarity when it’s from their own studios would definitely help as it won’t do them any damage to let us know what’s what. When they are showing games that are from 3rd party publishers, by all means leave the PlayStation name off, exactly as Sony would do, but always advertise your own games to the fans that ultimately can play them on PlayStation.
@dskatter guess what so is final fantasy and spiderman and silent hill, and 2 of those arent from PS studios but they they backstabed xbox players making them exlusives.....i think xbox like to be bullied...they own the studio they couldve just make it a timed exclusives and give their fans that seem not worth any special treatment have some previlages
To be honest I'm not that bothered(I own a ps5 so lol) ...but I hope they still keep new games and the other exclusives ... exclusive...
Doom is probably too big a seller and cross platform brand that it would be a bigger PR and financial disaster if it wasn't on PS5 and why 'delay' out of spite and upset 'loyal' Doom Fans because of platform?
Doom was already multiplatform and the suggestions since the acquisition were always that it was likely to remain that way. I'm glad it has even if I'll be playing on Xbox as it should be available to a wider audience, it's also pretty telling that Bethesda is referred to outside of Xbox Studios
Phil Spencer always said "they will be considered on a on a case by case basis" , as Doom has always been multiformat I guess that is what he meant by it.
Can't complain, PlayStation owners have to pay £70 for it even if they have PS Premium.
@Banjo- Ya Was pretty good! It was just close enough to the real thing, I could see them stealing your wording
And on GP. So sweet.
@TakeItEasy After telling the regulators during the ActiBlizz purchase that they wouldn’t keep established cross-platform games from going to other platforms, they’d look fairly silly if they kept Doom off of PS. Same with CoD and the like.
Either way, I own a PS5, Switch and Series X so I’m good no matter what!
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...