Rumour: DOOM: The Dark Ages PS5’s Physical Edition May Require a Download to Start

The Dark Ages,” developed by id Software, might require a download for its physical copies, which could be the case with other games published by Bethesda.

You might remember that when you purchased Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s physical version, there was also a need for a substantial download since only about 20GB of data was available on the disk itself.

It appears that initial versions of the latest DOOM game come with a warning label stating ‘Internet Required’ on the package. Currently, there’s some disagreement about this matter, but certain sources claim that the game won’t even start unless you first download additional content online.

Unlike a standard day one patch, in this case, most of the game is not fully loaded on the Blu-ray disc. Instead, you’ll need to download the remaining game data once you insert the disc into your PS5.

It’s quite clear that this isn’t too far removed from the Nintendo Switch 2’s Game Key Card setup, where you buy a physical cartridge that only serves as a means to download the game. However, unlike cartridges, Blu-rays don’t have significant costs attached to them, making them much cheaper.

The Dark Ages is similar to Indiana Jones, it seems as though Bethesda might as well not have made the effort either.

None of this is good for future game preservation.

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2025-05-09 08:16