Doom: The Dark Ages was originally planned as an Xbox exclusive before work on its PS5 version began “fairly late in the process”, according to a former id Software developer.
The claim comes from a new Kiwi Talkz interview with former id developers Todd Boyce, Jordan Turner and Taylor Offill. Discussing uncertainty over Microsoft’s goals for Game Pass and premium sales, one participant says “originally the game was going to be Xbox exclusive”, before explaining that the team was later porting it to PS5.
The developers describe uncertainty over what Microsoft wanted from Game Pass: attracting subscribers, keeping them subscribed, or selling copies. The PS5 port comes up during that discussion of changing commercial priorities.
Bethesda announced Doom: The Dark Ages for PS5 alongside Xbox Series X|S and PC in June 2024. The game subsequently launched on all three platforms on 15 May 2025.
Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, discussed the decision at IGN Live in June 2024. He recalled a conversation a couple of years earlier in which id’s Marty Stratton wanted to release the game across platforms, and said he agreed. Spencer pointed to Doom’s history across different systems as the reason to keep it widely available.
In the new interview, the developer follows the PS5 account by asking “is our goal premium sales?” The speaker recalls Stratton describing Battle.net as another premium platform for the game.
