Everyone refreshing Bethesda’s YouTube channel, waiting for the Oblivion Remastered trailer, was caught off guard by a new trailer for Doom: The Dark Ages, released over Easter weekend.

The trailer opens with a strong narrative, featuring a character reminiscent of Hellraiser, planning to attack a fragmented humanity with a skyship designed like a Warhammer 40,000 vessel, joined by an army of demons. In a twist, the humans deploy the Doom Slayer as if he were a powerful weapon.

First-person footage showcases various weapons, including a throwable shield and what can be described as a BFG crossbow. The trailer concludes with a dramatic appearance of a cybernetic Cthulhu, cementing its intense action vibes.

The launch of the trailer aligned with wrestler Drew McIntyre making a Doom-themed entrance at Wrestlemania, though that seemed less impressive in comparison. Meanwhile, gameplay tester Joshua Wolens provided insights on the game, expressing delight at its parry-focused combat despite some concerns about the reduced variety in glory kills.

He noted, “For all its newfound emphasis on melee combat, glory kills have taken a backseat. While enemies still enter vulnerable states, the execution moves are often basic kicks or punches instead of the inventive animations we once enjoyed.”

Despite this, the game allows players to pilot a mech and ride a dragon. Doom: The Dark Ages is scheduled for release on May 15, 2025, and players can add it to their wishlist on Steam.