Today marks exactly one year since the release of DOOM: The Dark Ages, but for some owners of the PS5 game, they’re still waiting on content thay paid for at launch.
Alongside the PS5 title, id Software sold a Premium Edition promising a “campaign DLC”. 12 months on, that expansion hasn’t launched and is yet to even be properly revealed by the studio.
While this version of the game can be purchased at a 67% discount nowadays (down to £32.99 / $34.99 in the PS Store Next Level Savings Sale), the DOOM fans who bought the Premium Edition at release were charged an extra £30 / $30.
While the more expensive version did also come with 48 hours of early access, a skin pack, and a digital artbook and a soundtrack, the main attraction of the Premium Edition still hasn’t come to fruition. They were charged the most for content that’s now been put on sale that isn’t even out yet.
The expansion is the talk of the town on the game’s Reddit page, where fans are debating back and forth the time it’s taking for the DLC to come out, and what to expect from it. Significant-Sundae89 said: “Week after week, the same small vague keyword and ‘we’re polishing’. A year later, all we have are 3 small ripatorium maps and nothing else. Price tag for modern games are very high, and fans are getting impatient. It’s normal.”
Sneakyjaycool came back with: “No we shouldn’t be frustrated with id making a game and telling us about how progress is coming along. We are not entitled. Video game development takes time and it’s better for the DLC to release in a good playable state than have the DLC be rushed and be complete garbage.”
The latter quote speaks to the perception surrounding post-launch expansions, and how if it’s released too soon after the base game, then some people believe it should have been part of the original title anyway. On the flip side, in this situation, where it’s very clear id Software began work on the DLC after DOOM: The Dark Ages’ release, then fans are left waiting for a significant length of time to play it.
