Highlights

  • Fans can apparently look forward to a new Doom game, rumored to be set in a Medieval-themed world called Doom: The Dark Ages.
  • The game may explore Doomguy's backstory on Argent D'Nur, engaging with fantasy themes and early human history.
  • Reports suggest a possible reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, aligning with previous hints and leaks surrounding the project.

It has been some time since fans last enjoyed a new release for the rebooted Doom franchise, with the last entry to the IP's successful rebirth coming out in 2020. While the story of Doom Eternal and its 2016 predecessor did well to tell a comprehensive tale of the Doom Slayer's fight against the combined powers of Hell, new reports suggest that Bethesda and id Software are by no means finished with the franchise.

According to Insider Gaming, the Doom series is set to announce a brand-new installment in the near future, known as Doom: The Dark Ages. This title will allegedly be unveiled at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, and while currently unconfirmed, these rumors do have a surprising amount of credibility to them. While fans will know for sure on June 9, it is already clear to see why rumors around Doom: The Dark Ages are being given so much credence.

doom-fan-makes-nostalgic-discovery-while-going-through-their-storage
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Doom Fan Makes Nostalgic Discovery While Going Through Their Storage

An old-school Doom fan makes quite a nostalgic discovery by checking out an old storage unit they had not thoroughly searched in a while.

Everything Fans Need to Know About Doom: The Dark Ages

The report from Insider Gaming about Doom: The Dark Ages suggests that the title will take place in a more Medieval setting compared to the timelines of Doom and Doom Eternal. This will allow the game to lean more heavily into fantasy themes, and the early foundations of this were actually laid in Doom Eternal itself. Doom Eternal delved deep into the backstory of the franchise's famously mysterious protagonist, Doomguy, including some of his time-bending interactions with demon-kind before the events of the reboot.

Eternal briefly showed how Doomguy was at one point found in the world of Argent D'Nur, a place brimming with Medieval fantasy themes and being home to a warrior caste population that are said to be the earliest decedents of the human race. Doomguy would go on to fight among the ranks of the Night Sentinels on the planet against demon invasions, growing to become a legendary warrior of the land and earning his Doom Slayer title.

Much of this story is told and not shown in Doom Eternal, and it seems that this period of the Doom Slayer's life could easily be the main subject of Doom: The Dark Ages. Hugo Martin, the Game Director for Doom Eternal, has even stated how this period would be perfect for a Medieval-inspired Doom game in the past, giving further validity to these rumors.

Everything Lines Up For a Doom Reveal on June 9

The reports around Doom: The Dark Ages also suggest that the game will be revealed at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, and this seems to line up with Microsoft's communication surrounding the event. Microsoft recently announced that the Xbox Games Showcase will reveal a new installment of a beloved franchise, and a new Doom game would easily justify these claims.

Of course, it has been known for some time that a new Doom project is in the works, when documents relating to Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard leaked the internal release schedule for Microsoft's many studios. Among a range of other titles for massive franchises, an upcoming game known as Doom: Year Zero appeared on this list, with Insider Gaming claiming that this was the working title for Dark Ages.

The Doom Slayer's time on Argent D'Nur marks the earliest timeline events of the character's story, giving the placeholder Year Zero name more validity as the earliest iteration of a full Medieval game set during this era. While these reports are currently unsubstantiated, there is a lot of evidence in support of Insider Gaming's reports about Doom: The Dark Ages, and it seems that any questions about the validity of these rumors will be answered on June 9.