DOOM: The Dark Ages has stirred up a storm of frustration among its fans due to the game's physical edition containing only 85 MB of data. Dive in to understand why fans received the game prematurely and to catch the official launch trailer.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Shipped Early
Only 85MB Included in the Disc
The excitement for DOOM: The Dark Ages turned to fury when fans discovered that the game's physical disc contains a mere 85 MB. Set for an official release on May 15, the game was surprisingly shipped early by some retailers, even before the premium edition's promised 2-day early access.
The disappointment escalated when it became clear that an additional download of over 80 GB was required to play the game. This was brought to light by Twitter user @DoesItPlay1, who shared screenshots on May 9 from their PS5, revealing the disc's tiny 85.01 MB file size and the necessity for an internet connection to download the rest of the game.
Fans have voiced their dissatisfaction with Bethesda's approach to the physical copies, feeling that they do not truly own the game. Many criticized the use of a disc as wasteful and have opted to wait for the digital release. The consensus is clear: Bethesda's decision has been met with widespread disapproval, leaving fans with no alternative but to download a significant amount of data upon launch.
An Amazing Game
Despite the backlash, the gameplay experience of DOOM: The Dark Ages has been praised across Reddit. Early recipients have shared their experiences and detailed the game's story, user interface, weapons, and more through numerous screenshots.
Reddit user TCXIV, who received the collector's edition, described the game as an "amazing game, what a trip." They provided a visual journey through the game, showcasing everything from menus and interfaces to bestiaries, demons, cutscenes, and significant spoiler moments.
Here at Game8, we rated DOOM: The Dark Ages 88 out of 100, applauding its brutal renaissance of the DOOM series. This installment shifts from the aerial dynamics of DOOM (2016) and Eternal to a more grounded, gritty combat experience. For a deeper dive into our review, check out our article below!