Every one of id Software’s modern Doom games is different. The 2016 reboot started it all with slick movement and glory kills. Eternal brought divisive platforming. And Doom The Dark Ages introduced bigger levels and the incredibly versatile shield. Everyone has their preference, but I appreciate how id has contrasted each experience with wildly different philosophies. That said, it looks like the slayer’s latest outing is having the lowest Steam launch of the trilogy, even if it’s still going quite strong.
If you look at the new Doom trilogy’s journey on Steam, it’s an incredibly big one. Doom 2016 launched with a peak player count of 44,271, with a few thousand players jumping in every day since release. Eternal took things even further, with a launch peak of 104,891 players that quickly dropped off but held firm. Doom The Dark Ages, while still raking in the numbers on its launch, has had the lowest turnout of the bunch. It’s hit a peak of just 30,812 (according to SteamDB), but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Both The Dark Ages and Eternal launched after Xbox started its Game Pass service, while 2016 came out just before. So it’s possible a lot of people who would’ve bought The Dark Ages on Steam are instead playing it on Xbox’s own PC launcher, and paying less for the new FPS game.
It’s not like Doom The Dark Ages has been received poorly on Valve’s platform, either. From just over 7,000 user reviews already, it’s sitting at an 85% positive rating. Granted, Eternal and 2016 are at over 90%, but both of those games have well over 140,000 lifetime reviews, so The Dark Ages can catch up.
Our very own Aaron even scored the game 8/10 in their Doom The Dark Ages review, calling it “a size 50-ish step in the right direction for the core experience” that’s somewhat let down by id’s new ideas.
Personally, I love the Slayer’s new shield and how useful it can be in myriad contexts. It can help you solve puzzles, block attacks, cover long distances, and of course, cut demons in half. Still, though, I can understand why someone might prefer 2016’s more consistently paced action – it’s all about preference.
As you dive into id’s newest game, make sure you check out all the Doom The Dark Ages Demonic Essence locations. We also have the best Doom The Dark Ages settings for both PC and Steam Deck, to help your rig get the best performance possible.
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