Why DOOM: The Dark Ages is Ditching Multiplayer for an Epic Single-Player Experience!

by

Summary

  • DOOM: The Dark Ages will focus solely on a single-player campaign to deliver the best experience possible.
  • DOOM 2016’s multiplayer was overshadowed by its campaign, leading to the decision to exclude multiplayer in the upcoming game.
  • The decision to skip multiplayer in DOOM: The Dark Ages will allow for a bigger and more narratively significant campaign.

In the upcoming game “DOOM: The Dark Ages,” it has been confirmed as a single-player experience only. Creative Director Hugo Martin explains why the developers feel this decision will enhance the game. This choice didn’t come as a shock or letdown to the “DOOM” fanbase, as multiplayer modes in more recent versions have garnered minimal interest over time.

In essence, DOOM 2016 marked a triumphant comeback for the franchise about a decade back, revolutionizing the concept of modern single-player First-Person Shooter (FPS) campaigns. However, its multiplayer mode, often overshadowed, was also part of the package. The game’s DLC predominantly focused on enhancing this multiplayer aspect, introducing an array of new weapons, maps, and playable demons. Despite the acclaim garnered by its campaign, DOOM 2016’s add-ons primarily catered to its multiplayer content. Intriguingly, while the sequel, DOOM Eternal, continued to build upon this multiplayer experience, it introduced a fresh twist. Unlike conventional game modes like team deathmatch and king of the hill, DOOM Eternal’s Battlemode pits one player as the Slayer against a team of demons aiming to destroy him.

Despite DOOM: Eternal‘s Battlemode being generally appreciated as a novel and engaging approach to multiplayer gaming, much like its predecessor, it failed to match the popularity of the game’s single-player campaign. In an interview with GamesRadar+, Hugo Martin, Creative Director of the current DOOM series and the upcoming title, DOOM: The Dark Ages, explained the reasoning behind the absence of any multiplayer mode in the forthcoming game. Martin pointed out that the decision to exclude a multiplayer component was made at the onset of the game’s development, with the team choosing to channel all their efforts into creating the best possible single-player experience.

DOOM: The Dark Ages’ Campaign Will Benefit At The Expense of Multiplayer

Martin further mentioned that there were numerous concepts for DOOM: Eternal that didn’t make it into the final version. One such idea was incorporating mechs into the game, but due to the extensive work required for Battlemode, this feature had to be set aside. However, trailers for an upcoming game titled DOOM: The Dark Ages suggest that players will get to control mechs in the future, as these vehicles were previously only discoverable as wrecks in DOOM Eternal.

Martin elaborated that it’s not a simple task to incorporate multiplayer features in Triple-A games these days, pointing out that it requires more than just a minor addition. In fact, successful multiplayer modes are often found within the live-service model, a strategy that the team working on “DOOM: The Dark Ages” deliberately chose to steer clear of. This decision could be welcome news for fans of DOOM’s renowned single-player action, as “DOOM: The Dark Ages” is expected to offer an expansive and story-rich campaign that aims to build upon what makes DOOM so exceptional.

Read More

2025-04-06 02:04