Developer id Software has released the first major update for its recently-released shooter, DOOM: The Dark Ages. The update, according to the studio, brings with it refinements to the game balance, as well as bug fixes and other improvements, including some for the game’s audio mix. It is worth noting that this is not the update bringing path tracing and DLSS Ray Reconstruction to the game.
The studio has also noted that quite a few of these changes are from a previous set of Tunables – smaller balance changes that don’t usually require a full patch. These have been marked as being (*PT). Before this update, the most recent tunables were from the end of May, which also consisted of a host of balance changes.
DOOM: The Dark Ages was released on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S just last month. For more details about the title, check out our review. Also check out the fact that DOOM: The Dark Ages has been the biggest game launch in id Software’s history, garnering more than 3 million players across the different platforms. Compared to the previous title – DOOM Eternal – DOOM: The Dark Ages hit the 3 million players milestone seven times faster.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Update 1 Patch Notes:
Improvements and Adjustments
- Adjusted audio mix so music and sound effects are more balanced at Default levels (For best results we recommend you reset audio settings to Default)
- Reduced the amount of time health drops remain active during Atlan missions
- Sprint VFX are now disabled for auto-sprint
Atlan
- (*PT) Reduced how long health drops linger in the world when in the Atlan
- (*PT) Updated the Atlan combo system so that after using a Finisher, the player can still use the previous one
- ㄴPlayers were paying too much to use a Finisher, which led to holding on for the most powerful attacks and then cashing out. This creates a more dynamic combat experience that rewards building up multiple Finishers for extended combos and more strategic decision-making
Dragon
- Dragon combat experience has been updated to allow players to move more swiftly through the experience
- ㄴMost enemies faced when on the Dragon will now only fire Hell Surge projectiles, allowing for more opportunities to empower the Autocannon
- ㄴThe Empowered state for the Dragon’s Autocannon now lasts longer
- ㄴ(*PT) Empowered shots from the Dragon’s Autocannon after a perfect dodge will go through projectile shields
Combat Encounter Updates
Village of Khalim
- Courtyard Encounter
- ㄴAdditional Imps added Two Imp Stalkers added
- Beach Encounter
- ㄴAdded Imps and additional Pinky Rider to fight
- ㄴMusic state adjustments
Hebeth
- Gore Deck Encounter (Leader Intro)
- ㄴAdded maintains for Pinky Rider Leader support
Sentinel Barracks
- Tomb Arena Encounter
- ㄴNightmare Imp added
- ㄴStone Imp wave added
- Exterior Burning Tree Encounter
- ㄴHell Knight maintain added
- ㄴLost Souls Added
- ㄴStone Imps added
- Vagary Into
- ㄴAdded Mancubus maintain
Holy City of Aratum
- Tutorial
- ㄴReduced number of Hell Tanks on pillar to 3
- ㄴHell Tank 1 shoots only Up/Down Hourglass projectile variant
- ㄴHell Tank 2 shoots only Left/Right Hourglass projectile variant
- ㄴHell Tank 3 shoots only Up/Down Hourglass projectile variant
- General
- ㄴDoubled the length of time the Empowered shot is active
- City Sandbox
- ㄴRemoved Titan Sentry immediately after Hell Carrier exit
- Final Arena
- ㄴMancubus maintain added for Vagary
- ㄴChaingunner Soldiers added
Siege – Part 1
- Vagary Encounters
- ㄴAdded 2 Hell Knights and small Imp maintain for Trenches Vagary
- ㄴAdded 2 Hell Knights and small Imp maintain to River Shore Vagary encounter
- ㄴAdded Imp Stalker and small Imp maintain in Canyon Vagary Encounter
Siege – Part 2
- Hangar Final Encounter
- ㄴAI spawn placement adjustments
- ㄴPickup placement adjustments
- ㄴAdded small Hell Knight maintain
- ㄴAdded Nightmare Imp
- ㄴAdded Arachnatron support for Battle Knight
Resurrection
- Dragon Flight to Maykr Ship
- ㄴMusic adjustment from ambient to light music state
Bug Fixes – All Platforms
Achievements
- Resolved an issue in which some users could not unlock the Berserker Achievement/Trophy upon obtaining the necessary upgrades. This should resolve retroactively for affected users
Audio
- Fixed an issue with music potentially pausing when transitioning between levels
- Addressed an issue in which VO was getting cut off during ending cinematic for The Holy City of Aratum
Ultra-Nightmare
- Difficulty Settings – adjusted the modified (M*) tag to persist after reverting to Default Settings in Ultra-Nightmare
- Fixed an issue in which the Death Marker did not display the correct enemy name when killed by an armored Leader or Enforcer
- Addressed the Death Marker so it no longer displays “???” when the player is killed by the ground spike AoE attack from any Cyberdemon variant
- Updated the Death Marker so the Mancubus (who fires acid hazards) name now displays correctly
Cinematics
- Fixed an issue in which the sound effects were not consistently playing during the interstitial sequences in The Old One boss fight
- Fixed an issue with music potentially dropping out during cinematics
- Addressed issues with subtitle timings for multiple languages
Crashes
- Fixed rare crash after destroying the gore portal in Siege – Part 1
Gameplay
- Resolved an issue in which the Shredder could lose functionality after performing an execute move
- Addressed a bug where the Shield Saw could lose functionality after being caught, then melee attacking a dazed enemy
- Fixed an issue with upgrade functionality not working when re-equipping a shield rune after maxing out the upgrades
Menus
- Fixed an issue in which some players were unable to select and enter The Holy City of Aratum via the level select menu
- The Battle Knight codex is now obtainable and will appear in the Codex menu
- Addressed issues in which the Chapter Selection text and the Command Bar UI element would flicker
- Fixed an issue encountered by some players where Campaign map completion was reset to 25% after the previous update
- Resolved an issue in which players could skip to future levels by highlighting them in the Level Selection menu
- The Arachnotron Codex page now appears consistently within the Dossier
- Addressed an issue in which the “Field Of View” menu slider could lose functionality after cutscenes or Shield bashing through a wall
- Resolved issues in which opening/closing the Dossier and reloading Checkpoints could cause the Shredder Barbed upgrade to unequip itself and the Pincushion and Ricochet upgrades would be equipped simultaneously
- Menus – the (M*) marker is now present on Campaign Save Files that have been modified
Rendering
- Added an additional control to customize image contrast when using HDR to fix issues where the image appeared washed out for some users