DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal were both billed first and foremost as single-player experiences, though they did also have multiplayer components that a fair few players played and enjoyed. With the series’ next instalment, however, developer id Software has made the decision to focus all of its energies on the single-player experience.
Speaking in a recent Q&A session with the media attended by GamingBolt, executive producer Marty Stratton confirmed that DOOM: The Dark Ages won’t have multiplayer.
“We made that decision really from the jump,” Stratton said. “We wanted to basically free ourselves to create things like the Atlan and the mech experience and the dragon experience. Those are both almost like mini-games within the game. We know that our campaigns are to a great extent what people come to the modern DOOM games to play, so we decided to put all of our efforts behind that and really create the biggest and best DOOM game we’ve ever made.”
In a separate Q&A session (via Eurogamer), director Hugo Martin echoed Stratton’s statements and explained that the decision to drop multiplayer and focus only on the single-player campaign allowed id Software to include the game’s much-touted Atlan mech and dragon sections.
“That’s why we were able to put the dragon and the Atlan [mech] in,” he said. “I mean, these are things we wanted to do in the game for, like, multiple games now, but couldn’t, because we had a multiplayer component – which we loved – but really, it was meant to just focus on the single player campaign and just level up that experience for players.”
Of course, with DOOM: The Dark Ages confirmed to be id Software’s largest campaign ever “by a good bit” – owing to its semi-open world nature and expanded focus on exploration – it’s fair to say that it won’t be lacking in content, multiplayer or no. Additionally, the shooter will also receive post-launch campaign DLC, it’s been confirmed.
DOOM: The Dark Ages launches on May 15 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out its PC requirements through here.