Julio Junior
00:00
Summary
- Doom: The Dark Ages had fewer day-one Steam players compared to Doom Eternal's peak in 2020.
- Game Pass availability and midweek launch likely contributed to the lower initial Steam player count.
Doom: The Dark Ages earned rave reviews, ranking among the series’ best—but its first day on Steam drew far fewer players than its 2020 predecessor. Here’s how the numbers stack up:
| Game | Day One Peak Players | All-Time Peak Players |
|---|---|---|
| Doom (2016) | 32,182 | 44,217 |
| Doom Eternal (2020) | 104,891 | 104,891 |
| Doom: The Dark Ages | 30,812 | TBC |
On launch day, Doom: The Dark Ages peaked at just over 30,800 concurrent Steam users—roughly 30% of Doom Eternal’s 104,891 peak back in March 2020. Even the 2016 reboot outperformed it, hitting 32,182 on day one before climbing to 44,217 over its opening weekend.
A few key factors likely played a part:
- Game Pass Release: Unlike Eternal, which joined Xbox Game Pass seven months after launch, The Dark Ages was available on Game Pass Day One. Plenty of players may have opted for the Xbox Series X version instead of Steam.
- Midweek Launch: Dropping on a Thursday rather than a Friday meant fewer players were free for late-night sessions. Traditionally, Friday launches capture more weekend traffic.
Despite the slower Steam start, The Dark Ages could see a surge over the weekend—or in Game Pass numbers—that offsets the initial gap. Only time will tell whether Cacodemons on Game Pass outnumber those on Valve’s platform.
Why Low Steam Players?
Game Pass Availability
1
Midweek Launch
0
Game Quality
0
Marketing Strategy
0
Sign In 
Unreal 5
It’s encouraging to see that Doom: The Dark Ages received rave reviews and is considered one of the best in the series. The midweek launch and availability on Game Pass might explain the lower initial numbers on Steam, but there’s potential for growth in player count over time.