What platform is the best to play DOOM: The Dark Ages?

DOOM: The Dark Ages, the latest entry in id Software’s iconic demon-slaying franchise, is arriving very soon on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC. With its medieval twist to the franchise, new weapons and scenarios, and a story that takes place before the events in previous games, the game aims to surpass DOOM Eternal, which is quite a feat. With its brutal combat, gothic visuals, and gory battles, performance is critical to delivering the fast-paced experience the DOOM series is known for. But what platform should you choose to play the game?

A not-so-difficult veredict

As a first-party Microsoft title, DOOM: The Dark Ages seems to be developed with the Xbox Series X in mind. The game runs at a rock-solid 60 FPS for the smoothest performance across all platforms. The game maintains a solid performance even during the most demanding battles with plenty of effects and enemies on the screen, yielding the best overall performance balance and excellent stability. The PlayStation 5 version of DOOM: The Dark Ages lags a bit behind. The main reason is that the game experiences an FPS drop, even when playing the game on the PlayStation 5 Pro. It's still a great experience, with minor technical differences that are offset by strong immersion features.

Unsurprisingly, DOOM: The Dark Ages shines brightest on a high-end gaming PC. With support for ultra-wide monitors, unlocked framerates, DLSS 3.5, FSR 3, and ray tracing, PC players have the potential for the most visually rich and smooth experience. However, your PC needs to have the appropriate hardware to run the game. Machines in the lower end range will offer a significantly reduced performance, especially on higher resolutions. You can check out the PC system requirements for DOOM: The Dark Ages right below. They may come in handy since you are still in time for some upgrades before the launch day.

Doom: The Dark Ages minimum PC specs (1080p/60fps/Low)

• OS: Windows 10 / 11
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X / Intel Core i7-10700K
• GPU: 8GB VRAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super / AMD Radeon RX 6600
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB or higher NVMe SSD (100GB available)

Doom: The Dark Ages recommended PC specs (1440p/60fps/High)

• OS: Windows 10 / 11
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X / Intel Core i7-12700K
• GPU: 10GB VRAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 / AMD Radeon RX 6800
• RAM: 32GB
• Storage: 512GB or higher NVMe SSD (100GB available)

Doom: The Dark Ages Ultra 4K PC specs (4K/60fps/Ultra)

• OS: Windows 10 / 11
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X / Intel Core i7-12700K
• GPU: 16GB VRAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 / AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
• RAM: 32GB
• Storage: 512GB or higher NVMe SSD (100GB available)

The conclusion is clear. DOOM: The Dark Ages performs best on Xbox Series X, with the PS5 version following close behind. The PC version of the game offers different mileage depending on your rig, but overall has the potential to surpass all others.

Whichever platform they choose, DOOM fans are in for a blood-soaked journey through a hellish medieval chaos. Make sure to check out the best discounts for DOOM: The Dark Ages on your platform of choice with our comparator if you don't want to miss this exciting experience.