Fans of DOOM: The Dark Ages have been hit with a wave of disappointment, leading to a surge in pre-order cancellations after discovering that the game's physical disc only contains a mere 85 MB. This revelation has forced players to face the reality of needing to download over 80 GB to fully enjoy the game, a detail that has not sat well with the community. This issue surfaced after several retailers mistakenly shipped the game ahead of its official release date.
On a recent Twitter (X) post, user @DoesItPlay1 highlighted the problematic physical release. @DoesItPlay1, an account dedicated to game preservation and ensuring that physical editions are playable without an internet connection, pointed out that DOOM: The Dark Ages requires an internet connection to update and become playable. This has sparked widespread frustration among fans who had hoped for a seamless, offline gaming experience.
The outcry was further amplified when @DoesItPlay1 rallied the community, leading to many fans voicing their disappointment and opting to cancel their pre-orders. The sentiment among these fans is clear: they prefer a physical copy that's ready to play out of the box, and the requirement of an internet connection to access the full game feels like they don't truly own it. This unexpected move by Bethesda has left many fans feeling let down, prompting them to wait for the digital release instead.
Despite the backlash, early recipients of the physical copy have taken to Reddit to share their experiences, praising the game for its brutal and engaging gameplay. Here at Game8, we awarded DOOM: The Dark Ages an impressive 88 out of 100, celebrating its return to the series' roots with a grittier, boots-on-the-ground combat style that diverges from the aerial dynamics of DOOM (2016) and Eternal. For a deeper dive into our review, feel free to explore our detailed article below!
