Doom: The Dark Ages Fans Cancel Pre-Orders After Discovering What’s Not on the Disc

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In the build-up, Doom: The Dark Ages was seen as the violent new installment in the series, yet it’s the contents (or lack thereof) that have caused an overwhelming response of criticism.

Some enthusiastic gamers received advance copies of the game prior to its May 15th launch, but not long after, a common query emerged among them: “Where’s the full game?” Those who purchased physical versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were taken aback when they found that the disc contained only a small portion of the actual game data.

1) The PS5 version takes up 85MB, while the Xbox version requires a 328MB launcher file. However, the game itself isn’t fully on the disc; instead, it triggers an 80+ GB download. This means the disc functions more like a key than a complete product, which has caused some frustration among fans who value physical media.

A significant number of people had pre-ordered special collector’s editions, but were disappointed when they found out that even the high-end $200 versions contained a blank disc. Some customers went as far as cancelling their orders, stating that there was no point in buying physical editions if the entire game needed to be downloaded online instead.

In a nutshell, this isn’t an isolated incident; Bethesda had previously used a similar distribution method with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, offering only 20GB of content despite the game having over 100 GB in total. This trend towards digital-first strategies by Microsoft has left some physical collectors feeling like their role might be completely eliminated.

Instead of just Doom we’re talking about something more profound: it’s about relinquishing control, offline play, and game conservation. Some found the irony in the PS5 discs capable of storing up to 100GB, which could have accommodated the entire game. The omission of this feature led some to suspect that the issue wasn’t about practicality, but rather a strategy to cut costs and nudge users towards digital platforms.

Critics contend that the focus on digital platforms, subscriptions, and server management in the industry comes at the expense of traditional physical media. In such scenarios where servers malfunction or a game is removed from digital stores, individuals who own the physical copies are left only with an empty disc and no game to play.

1. It’s not simply a matter of personal taste; it involves ensuring long-term access to something people have already purchased. Baldur’s Gate 3 was released on multiple discs as part of its preservation strategy, demonstrating that this approach can be successful when developers prioritize it. However, the release of Doom: The Dark Ages has been overshadowed by controversy despite positive reviews.

2. It’s not just about personal preference; it’s about ensuring long-term access to something people have already paid for. Baldur’s Gate 3 was distributed across multiple discs as part of its preservation strategy, showing that this method can work when developers prioritize it. Unfortunately, the launch of Doom: The Dark Ages has been tainted by controversy despite receiving positive reviews.

3. It goes beyond personal preference; it’s about maintaining long-term access to something people have already purchased. Baldur’s Gate 3 was packaged across multiple discs as part of its preservation strategy, proving that this method can be successful when developers prioritize it. However, the release of Doom: The Dark Ages has been overshadowed by controversy despite positive reviews.

4. It isn’t merely a matter of preference; it involves ensuring long-term access to something people have already paid for. Baldur’s Gate 3 was distributed across multiple discs as part of its preservation strategy, demonstrating that this approach can be successful when developers prioritize it. Nevertheless, the launch of Doom: The Dark Ages has been marred by controversy despite receiving positive reviews.

5. It transcends personal preference; it’s about ensuring long-term access to something people have already paid for. Baldur’s Gate 3 was released on multiple discs as part of its preservation strategy, showing that this method can work when developers prioritize it. Regrettably, the release of Doom: The Dark Ages has been overshadowed by controversy despite positive reviews.

The irritation isn’t solely felt by collectors, but also by ordinary gamers, as they anticipate functioning items straight away upon purchase. However, what they receive is a 85MB file and an instruction to download more data instead.

Currently, enthusiastic gamers are anticipating either significant price drops, comprehensive versions, or a potential rerelease featuring the entire game on a disc, as they still wish to engage with the title.

However, for numerous individuals, this situation serves as a critical tipping point – evidence suggesting that traditional physical games are merely becoming costly substitutes for something greater.

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2025-05-14 09:23