Doom Eternalhas challenged even the most seasoned Doom Slayers with its labyrinthine level design, myriad secrets, and frenetic, puzzle-like skirmishes. But one demon type in particular stands head and shoulders above its peers in Hell’s legions, and it will feature prominently in the games' forthcoming DLC,The Ancient Gods: Part 1.
After a successful franchise relaunch withDoom (2016), Id Software continues to ride high with its 2019 follow-up,Doom Eternal,which boasts new power-ups, bigger guns, and meaner bad guys. At Gamescom,id Software showed a fresh trailer forTheAncient Gods:Part 1that revealed the DLC would be dropping late this October. But shooting veterans eager for more challenging foes may be in for more than they bargained for, regardless of their experience.
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In a recent interview with PCGamesN, Game Directo Hugo Martin and Executive Producer Marty Stratton detailed some of the DLC’s features. When asked about the number of Marauders appearing in the DLC, Game Director Hugo Martin simply stated “There are a lot.” The fearsome, horned warrior is unquestionably the game’s hardest foe, andone of the coolest-looking demons in the entireDoomfranchise.
Martin pointed out that players would be startingThe Ancient Godswith a “fully loaded” kit—an experience comparable to entering cheat codes in the original. Such a power boost will take acclimation, and that is likely doubly true forplayers who pick up the DLC without playingEternal’sbase campaign. Martin also revealed there is an encounter with two Marauders simultaneously, but he was quick to add: “there’s a balance - it feels amazing,” though he also admitted that even he finds the fight challenging.
Even thoughThe Ancient GodsisEternal’s first narrative-driven DLC, the game has received numerous updates since launch, though not all of them have been well-received. In May,Eternalwas review-bombed after an update included Denuvo, but Bethesda and id Software listened to player complaints and removed the controversial anti-cheat system in a subsequent patch. Other updates have included new maps, modes, and other content to keep players busy during the wait forThe Ancient Gods.
Another notable quality-of-life upgrade will hit this fall. Players who have already purchasedEternalon console and plan on jumping to next-gen systems will receivea free, next-generation version ofDoom Eternalfor their new system. Seeing a developer exercise this sort of care and responsiveness toward their player base is encouraging, and for a series set in the bowels of Hell,Doom’sfuture looks hopeful. It’s a good thing, too. When facing down multiple Marauders, Slayers will need all the hope they can muster.
Doom Eternalis available now for Google Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with a Switch version also in development. Its first DLC,The Ancient Gods: Part 1,will be available on October 20th, 2020. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are also in development.
