Doom: Dark Ages Pre-Orders Drop Amid Physical Edition Backlash

DOOM: The Dark Ages encounters significant pre-order cancellations as players discover the physical disc contains merely 85MB of data. Learn about the ongoing controversy regarding the game's physical release and details about exclusive in-game rewards.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Pre-Launch Updates

Players Abandon Pre-Orders

DOOM: The Dark Ages faces widespread pre-order cancellations after revelations that its physical disc holds just 85MB - forcing players to download over 80GB to access gameplay. This controversy emerged following early shipments from certain retailers before the official release date.

Game preservation group Does It Play highlighted the issue via Twitter/X, noting the backlash from collectors and physical edition enthusiasts. Their post sparked discussions about modern gaming's push toward mandatory online requirements for physical copies. Currently, DOOM: The Dark Ages requires an internet connection for essential updates before becoming playable.

The conversation revealed growing frustration within the gaming community, with many players choosing to wait for the digital release instead. Traditionalists argue the situation undermines ownership rights, suggesting players merely license rather than possess their games. Some early recipients praised the gameplay experience on Reddit despite the physical copy limitations.

Here at Game8, we awarded DOOM: The Dark Ages an impressive 88/100 for its visceral reimagining of the franchise. The title shifts from DOOM (2016) and Eternal's aerial combat to a more grounded, medieval-inspired warfare approach. For our complete analysis, explore our detailed review!