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Can Your PC Run Doom: The Dark Ages?

On May 15, bring the onslaught to Hell's door with these minimum and recommended system requirements.

 & Jordan Minor Principal Writer, Software

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(Credit: Bethesda)

“Can your PC run Doom?” has evolved from a simple question to a cornerstone of gaming culture. The original Doom was a shooter phenomenon, and on May 15 the lethal legacy continues with Doom: The Dark Ages. We doubt Id Software’s next-gen blockbuster can run on calculators and PDF files, but you can make sure your PC is ready to rip and tear through Hell once more by meeting these PC system requirements


What Is Doom: The Dark Ages' Story?

Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to the modern Doom reboot saga, a treat for any fans trying to wrap their heads around this wacky timeline. It trades futuristic space stations for medieval fortresses. Instead of plasma blasters, you have primitive guns that grind bones into bullets. Doomguy himself wears a fur cape and wields a shield.

Regarding gameplay, The Dark Ages promises a more grounded Doom experience than the polarizing Doom: Eternal. One thing that'll never change? You still slaughter plenty of demons.

(Credit: Bethesda)

Price and Release Date

Doom: The Dark Ages releases on PC (Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on May 15, 2025, and costs $69.99. For $99.99, the premium version lets you play the game two days early and grants bonus content like cosmetics and a DLC campaign. The game will also be on Xbox Game Pass at launch.


Doom: The Dark Ages' Minimum System Specs

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (64-bit)
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6600 (8GB VRAM) or Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super (8GB VRAM)
  • Storage: 100GB available space
  • Note: SSD required
(Credit: Bethesda)

Doom: The Dark Ages' Recommended System Specs

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (64-bit)
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or Intel Core i7-12700K
  • Memory: 32 GB RAM
  • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800 (10GB VRAM) or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB VRAM)
  • Storage: 100GB available space
  • Note: SSD required

Check out I Tested a GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop With Doom: The Dark Ages, and It Slays for high-end GPU benchmarks.



Controls and Steam Deck Support

As a fast-paced shooter, Doom: The Dark Ages unsurprisingly supports mouse and keyboard controls (it's also compatible with gamepads). Steam Deck support has yet to be determined. The game employs the controversial Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM.

Once you establish how you want to play, check out these Doom: The Dark Ages tips for how to slay.


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About Our Expert

Jordan Minor

Jordan Minor

Principal Writer, Software

My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977, and the reason everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie.

The Technology I Use

I use the newest Android and iOS smartphones for testing, but I currently use an iPhone 14 as my personal phone. I just hate that we gave up headphone jacks.

I've always favored gaming laptops over desktops. On that note, I have a 16-inch HP Envy with an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. No matter what machine I’m working on, an alarming amount of my personal and professional life revolves around cloud-synced Google Drive files.

For food subscriptions, my household sticks with CookUnity and HelloFresh for meals. Video streaming is a bit more complicated. While there are too many services to list, we're subscribed to most of the major ones. These days, I find myself drawn to HBO Max's movies and shows, as well as Peacock's reality trash.

I've been a lifelong Nintendo fan, and I sincerely believe the Nintendo Switch will go down as one of the best gaming consoles of all time. It has an unbelievable library of new and old games from Nintendo and third-party companies. The handheld/console hybrid approach makes playing games so much more flexible, a legacy that continues with the Nintendo Switch 2 and Valve’s Steam Deck.

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