DOOM: The Dark Ages reviews drop May 9, signaling early confidence from Bethesda

In a standout year for new releases, another contender is ready to enter the fray with DOOM: The Dark Ages, releasing May 15. Bethesda has demonstrated early confidence in the title, setting an embargo lift for May 9 - six full days before the game's standard release.

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The embargo date has been revealed to content creators and the press, with publications gathering early thoughts on the title as we speak. The game, which has been in development since 2021, promises a notable departure from the previous games' playstyle, emphasizing brutal, medieval combat over its predecessors' traversal-based, run & gun gameplay.

It's common convention for AAA studios to lift embargos 1-2 days before launch, in alignment with standard media cycles. However, opening reviews six (four with the Premium Edition) days before launch signals high confidence from Bethesda, who likely anticipate strong critical reception and positive buzz ahead of the game's release.

Reports from Dualshockers also provide a look at the game's file size, which is expected to be 84GB on PS5, with Xbox Series X/S, and PC, expecting to float around this figure. The game's digital artbook, included in the game's Premium Edition, also clocks in at a sizeable 17.5GB.

Preload dates have also been confirmed for the medieval shooter. Standard edition owners can preload starting May 13, two days before the May 15 launch, while premium buyers can start downloading the title on May 11, two days before the game's May 13 early access launch.

With shields to throw, and demons to tear - jump into DOOM: The Dark Ages on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC when the game drops May 15.