id Software spoke at the Xbox Developer Direct about the gameplay of the upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages and announced a release date of May 15, 2025.
The game will significantly slow down the pace and offer the player large open locations with real hordes of demons. These locations can be freely explored, finding optional nooks and caves. This will allow the player to take a break from fighting and focus on exploring the world.
The developers sought to recreate the atmosphere of the original 1993 DOOM, where the player maneuvered between slow demons and their projectiles. Therefore, the enemies in the new game will be slower, but their number will increase significantly. Unlike Eternal, it is now the player who will take the initiative in battle.
"If in DOOM Eternal you were like a high-speed fighter jet, in DOOM: The Dark Ages you will be like an iron tank," the developers say.
Doomslayer will have a shield that will allow you to block and deflect enemy attacks, as well as use it to attack by throwing it at the demon. All these actions will be performed with a single button, depending on the context of the situation.
In addition to ground battles, the developers will also give players the opportunity to ride their own dragon with machine guns and control a huge battle mech.
DOOM: The Dark Ages, like all other games from Bethesda studios, will be available on Game Pass from the very first day of release.