DOOM: The Dark Ages
Image: id Software, Bethesda

Well, it's now officially confirmed - DOOM: The Dark Ages is releasing for Xbox, Game Pass, and other platforms on May 15, 2025. This title has obviously been in the pipeline for some time now, and with this in mind, multiple outlets have already experienced guided previews of the new prequel entry.

The first impressions seem quite promising - so here is what the critics think of this new entry after testing out the game in the presence of director Hugo Martin and executive producer Marty Stratton:

Beginning with IGN's deep dive, it's noted how the game "pivots from Eternal’s platforming and instead literally grounds its combat in strafe-heavy gameplay with an emphasis on power":

"Sure, the great guns are still there – this is Doom, after all!...But The Dark Ages also places a huge premium on your three melee weapons: the default electrified gauntlet, which can be charged up; the flail; and the star of the reveal trailer from last summer, the Shield Saw, which can be thrown or used to block, parry, or deflect. “You’re gonna stand and fight,” game director Hugo Martin said..."

Game Rant also shares some details about the weapons players can expect to get up close and personal with:

"Great care has clearly been taken in ensuring Doom: The Dark Ages pays homage to older Doom games, some of which id Software played a lot during development. Most of the game's guns are short-to-medium range, encouraging the player to get up close and personal during combat. Enemy types will be varied and will feature a mixture of new and more recognizable fiends for Doom Slayer to take care of."

Polygon notes how The Dark Ages aims to make the control system a little less complicated:

"The Slayer will also have a variety of melee weapons at his disposal, including a gauntlet, a chunky iron mace, and a whipping flail. Those weapons’ attacks are contextual too, as id Software aims to simplify the game’s inputs, a course correction from the more complicated control scheme of Eternal."

CGM adds to this point, mentioning how it results in a more "engaging and rewarding" gameplay loop:

"While DOOM: The Dark Ages introduces more complex and exciting ways to dispatch foes, ID Software has worked diligently to streamline the controls. The philosophy behind this change is that with a simplified control layout, the game can demand more from players, creating a more engaging and rewarding gameplay loop."

And Inverse mentions how it's set to be the perfect entry point for newcomers, and just as promising for returning fans:

"The power fantasy of being a potent demon slayer armed to the teeth with insane weapons and abilities looks more appealing and approachable than ever. And for returning fans, the next iteration of what id does best — tweaking the core of Doom to create unique first-person shooters — looks just as engrossing as its two genre-defining predecessors."

This has definitely got us excited here at Pure Xbox to learn and see more of DOOM: The Dark Ages in the coming months, so stay tuned for future updates.

Will you be checking this out on Xbox and Game Pass when it launches this May? Let us know in the comments.