Doom: The Dark Ages release date and how to start slaying up to two days before the official launch

Doom: The Dark Ages is coming to Xbox, PC and PS5 day one, with Game Pass subscribers getting it included as part of their membership.

It’s been almost a decade since the series reboot in 2016, and since then we’ve only had one follow-up with Doom Eternal in 2020. But after five years, we’re getting a brand new series entry with Doom: The Dark Ages which is coming to , and in May.

While the first two titles in the rebooted series were multi-platform, after , Zenimax, in 2021, it was thought that the franchise would be skipping the going forward, but thankfully that’s not the case.

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Xbox boss, Phil Spencer, offered IGN his reasoning for the decision in an , saying, “Doom is definitely one of those franchises that has a history of so many platforms. It’s a franchise that I think everyone deserves to play.

“When I was in a meeting with [id Software Studio Director Marty Stratton] a couple years ago, I asked Marty what he wanted to do, and he said he wanted to sell it on all platforms. Simple as that.”

Obviously |S owners get the added benefit of having the title be a day on title, but we won’t begrudge its absence from given we’re luck to see it on PS5 at all.

Here’s exactly when Doom: The Dark Ages releases and how you can play up to two days ahead of anyone else with early access.

Doom: The Dark Ages release date

Doom: The Dark Ages is set to release on Thursday, May 15 at 12am UTC according to the Store listings in the UK, US, and AU. This has also spotted the same time over on the Xbox store page, but it looks like it'll be a simultaneous global launch rather than midnight local time.

This may be a placeholder as we often see games go live at midnight local time (or 12am EDT in the US dictating the time for all territories in the region), but we’ll be keeping an eye on social media for official confirmation closer to the time. In the meantime, based on the game launching worldwide at 12am UTC, here's what that is for your region:

Wednesday, May 14

• 5pm PDT
• 6pm CDT
• 7pm MDT
• 8pm EDT

Thursday, May 15

• 12am UTC
• 1am BST
• 2am CEST
• 10am AEST

If you’re keen to play early, then you’ll have to fork out for the Premium Edition, Collector’s Bundle, or Premium Upgrade – all of which will give you up to two days early access for Doom: The Dark Ages, on the following dates:

Monday, May 12

• 5pm PDT
• 6pm CDT
• 7pm MDT
• 8pm EDT

Tuesday, May 13

• 12am UTC
• 1am BST
• 2am CEST
• 10am AEST

As for the editions themselves, as well as early access, here's a brief summary of the price and what it gets you:

Doom: The Dark Ages standard edition

• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Void DOOM Slayer Skin
• Price: £69.99 / $69.99 / AU$119.95

Doom: The Dark Ages Premium Edition

• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Up to 2-Day Early Access
• Campaign Add On
• Digital Artbook & Soundtrack
• Divinity Skin Pack
• Void DOOM Slayer Skin
• Price: £99.99 / $99.99 / AU$169.95

Doom: The Dark Ages Premium Upgrade (Xbox and PC only)

• Up to 2-Day Early Access
• Campaign DLC
• Digital Artbook and Soundtrack
• Divinity Skin Pack
• Base game required (sold separately)
• Price: £34.99 / $34.99 / AU$59.95

Bear in mind that if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you can grab the Doom: The Dark Ages Premium Upgrade for just £3.50 / $3.50 / AU$6; although give it’s a day one release, that rules out the possibility of you playing early but the looks of things. But you’ll still get all the other extras.