Doom: The Dark Ages Makes Waves with Tiny Physical Releases

This week marks the launch of Doom: The Dark Ages, but the excitement is tinged with frustration. Fans are reeling after discovering that the PS5 version features a mere 85MB of data on its disc, while the Xbox Series X/S version isn’t far behind, packing just 342MB.

The uproar began over the weekend when an early buyer raised the alarm on social media. This revelation has left many gamers questioning what they’re actually purchasing in these physical editions.

Massive Downloads Needed!

An account called Does It Play? examined the situation, revealing that the PS5 disc essentially contains a small "stub" and requires a hefty 85GB download just to play the game. This has left many scratching their heads as to why the physical copy is so minimal.

The physical edition's cover even sports a prominent "internet required" badge, but it fails to clearly communicate how extensive the download will be—a detail many gamers feel should have been transparent.

Is This the Future of Gaming?

This news isn't the first of its kind; gamers earlier this year expressed similar discontent with Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which contained only 20GB of the total 120GB on the disc. Furthermore, Nintendo has faced backlash for Switch 2's game-key cards, which only come with download keys instead of actual data.

As the industry shifts further towards digital solutions, many worry about the implications for physical media and preservation. This trend raises crucial questions about what it truly means to own a physical game in today’s gaming landscape.

Will Bethesda Respond?

Eurogamer has reached out to Bethesda for clarification regarding these dismal physical releases and is awaiting a response. Gamers are eager for answers about what seems like a concerning pattern in physical gaming.