DOOM: The Dark Ages’s take on Horde mode just got a huge update — and players can now share favorite encounters with friends

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As an analyst, I’ve been following the updates to DOOM: The Dark Ages, and the latest, Update 3, is a big win for players of the Ripatorium mode. Introduced in August, the horde-style mode now allows for much longer encounters – up to five rounds with ten respawn waves each. The coolest part? We’ve added a Passcode system. This lets players easily share their favorite Ripatorium setups with friends – just share the code and they can load it up. It’s currently in beta, so expect some potential bugs, but it’s a fantastic addition. We’ve also expanded the Ripatorium Jukebox with five more tracks from the game’s soundtrack, giving players even more options to customize their demon-slaying experience.

  • “Theomachy” 
  • “Bloodspill” 
  • “Divine Retribution” 
  • “From the Ashes” 
  • “Wither and Writhe”  

This update also brings four new heavily-requested rebindable inputs in the game’s settings:

  • Next Melee Weapon 
  • Previous Melee Weapon 
  • Next Shield Rune 
  • Previous Shield Rune 

This feature lets players quickly switch between attacking with swords and using shield powers during battles, without needing to stop and open a menu. It makes the game faster-paced and allows for smoother combat against enemies.

A cool update, but bring on the expansion

It’s great that id Software is still adding to the Ripatorium mode – I hope they keep it up with even more options for creating custom challenges for friends and me.

I’m especially excited about the upcoming campaign DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages. The Ancient Gods DLCs were incredibly difficult, and I’m curious to see if this new content will be just as challenging.

Right now, details are scarce, including a release date, but I really enjoyed DOOM: The Dark Ages and can’t wait to hear more. Ideally, the DLC will act as a sequel, bridging the story between The Dark Ages and DOOM (2016) to complete the trilogy.

I’m also wondering if DOOM: The Dark Ages will eventually come to the Nintendo Switch 2. It might be technically demanding, but MachineGames, another studio owned by id, is already bringing Indiana Jones to the system next year.

Recently, id released an update that improved performance on handheld devices like the Steam Deck and Xbox Ally X, which makes a Switch 2 port seem a little more plausible. We’ll have to wait and see!

FAQ

Is DOOM: The Dark Ages a prequel?

DOOM: The Dark Ages happens earlier in the timeline than DOOM (2016), DOOM Eternal, and the Ancient Gods expansion for DOOM Eternal.

Is DOOM: The Dark Ages getting DLC?

DOOM: The Dark Ages is planned to receive a story campaign expansion, but specific details haven’t been released yet.

Is DOOM: The Dark Ages coming to Nintendo Switch 2?

DOOM: The Dark Ages isn’t available on Nintendo Switch right now. It’s currently playable on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. However, Bethesda and MachineGames are bringing other games – Fallout 4 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – to the new Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, so a Switch 2 version of DOOM: The Dark Ages might be announced later on.

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2025-11-19 02:09