DOOM: The Dark Ages on disc will require a mandatory download - even the physical version will not work without the Internet

Even if you buy a physical copy of DOOM: The Dark Ages for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S, you won't be able to play the game without the internet. The boxes already have warnings about the need for an online connection, and some buyers report that the disc contains only a small part of the game - the rest will have to be downloaded separately.

Here's What We Know

This practice is becoming the new norm for Bethesda and Microsoft: previously, a similar situation was with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, where the disc contained only 20 GB of data, and the main content had to be downloaded from the Internet. In the case of DOOM: The Dark Ages, judging by the first reviews and labels on the packaging, the disc is actually a key to download the game, not a full-fledged medium.

This is a significant difference from the usual "day one patches", when the main game is fully contained on the disc, and an Internet connection is required only for updates. Now even owners of physical editions will not be able to install and run DOOM: The Dark Ages without access to the network, which is especially disappointing for collectors.

The digital version of the game on PS5 is more than 84 GB, and the premium edition comes with almost 18 GB of artwork. The official release of DOOM: The Dark Ages will be officially released on 15 May 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, and pre-ordering the premium edition allows you to start playing two days earlier.

DOOM: The Dark Ages may become another example of how even large publishers are moving away from classic physical editions in favour of digital versions.

Source: @DoesItPlay1