Doom: The Dark Ages and the challenges of finding new players – BBC

🔍 Summary:

“Doom: The Dark Ages,” the latest installment in the iconic Doom video game series, faces the modern challenges of the gaming industry in 2025. As reported by BBC Newsbeat, the game’s developers at ID Software are navigating a landscape dominated by free-to-play (F2P) games like Fortnite and Roblox, as well as annually updated franchises such as Call of Duty. These games, often called “forever games,” are capturing the majority of younger players’ attention, making it difficult for premium games like Doom to attract new audiences.

Despite these challenges, Doom maintains a strong position thanks to its established reputation and loyal fanbase. The new game introduces a “Medieval sci-fi” theme and altered gameplay, which has been positively received in previews, attracting potential new players. Executive producer Marty Stratton and director Hugo Martin emphasize that Doom offers a complete experience without the ongoing costs associated with F2P games, which can accumulate through microtransactions.

The cost of video games has been a hot topic, with Doom: The Dark Ages priced at £69.99 for the standard edition. This reflects a modest increase when adjusted for inflation compared to game prices in 2010. The debate over pricing is intensified by economic factors such as potential tariffs and the pricing strategies of major console makers.

Additionally, subscription services like Microsoft’s Game Pass and Sony’s PlayStation Plus are changing how consumers access games, potentially discouraging full-price purchases. However, Doom’s creators believe there is still significant demand for well-crafted, single-player experiences, and they aim to provide good value to justify the game’s cost.

Overall, Doom: The Dark Ages seeks to balance the appeal to its core fans with the need to attract new players, all while managing the economic realities of modern game development and distribution.

📌 Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gezq2q911o