id Software's first major campaign expansion for DOOM: The Dark Ages arrives tomorrow — July 7, 2026. Titled Revelations, the DLC introduces the Chain Spear: a new left-hand weapon that replaces the Slayer's iconic shield early in the story and fundamentally reimagines movement in DOOM: The Dark Ages.
Game Director Hugo Martin called it "the culmination of 35 years of DOOM." At 10-12 hours, it's larger than both DOOM Eternal DLCs combined.
At a Glance
| Field | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | DOOM: The Dark Ages \ | Revelations |
| Type | Campaign Expansion DLC | |
| Release Date | July 7, 2026 | |
| Platforms | PC (Steam / Xbox App), PS5, Xbox Series X\ | S |
| Developer | id Software | |
| Publisher | Bethesda Softworks | |
| Runtime | 10–12 hours | |
| Included In | Premium Edition / Premium Upgrade | |
| Base Game Metacritic | 83 / 100 |
Developer
id Software (founded 1991) created the first-person shooter genre with the original DOOM. After landmark reboots with DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal (2020), the studio delivered DOOM: The Dark Ages in May 2025 — a prequel set in a medieval war against Hell. The base game earned Metacritic 83 and sits in the 95th percentile on OpenCritic. Revelations is id's largest single DLC to date.
Platform Availability
| Platform | Launch | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | ✅ July 7 | Steam Deck compatible | |
| PC (Xbox App) | ✅ July 7 | Xbox Play Anywhere | |
| Xbox Series X\ | S | ✅ July 7 | Base game in Xbox Game Pass |
| PlayStation 5 | ✅ July 7 | ||
| Xbox One / PS4 | ❌ | Not supported |
The Chain Spear — Everything You Need to Know
Early in the Revelations campaign, the Slayer's shield is destroyed. The Chain Spear takes its place in the left hand — and every attack mode is distinct.
| Attack Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Stab | Close-range melee strike |
| Throw | Long-range sniper-style projectile |
| Slam | Ground pound (like Eternal's DLC hammer) |
| Slash | Wide AOE; breaks armor, farms resources, parries attacks |
| Grapple Hook | Launch tip on chain — pull toward enemies or traverse vertically |
| Orbit | Tether to an airborne enemy; rotate and unload freely |
""It kind of plays like the culmination of 35 years of DOOM. It adds movement tech to Dark Ages combat, complete with a dash and grapple hook. We're going to make the tanky Dark Ages Slayer fly. You'll feel like a monster truck with a jet engine strapped to your back." — Hugo Martin, id Software Game Director (Xbox Wire, July 1, 2026)
The grapple builds on the Meat Hook from DOOM Eternal's Super Shotgun, but with more refined movement control and the ability to pair it with any gun in the right hand. Martin compared the Orbit mode's lock-on dynamic to Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Z-targeting — applied here to a first-person shooter mid-air firefight.
""There is a ton of skill expression in the DLC, and it's all through the spear, so it's worth your time and investment." — Hugo Martin (Xbox Wire, July 1, 2026)
Story
Official Steam description:
""HELL FREEZES OVER in DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations, an all-new campaign expansion that unleashes a brutal new chapter of the Slayer's saga. Wounded and betrayed, the Slayer is thrust into a merciless purgatory only escapable by confronting haunting truths and forging new strength with the help of a mysterious ally. He must ascend from the prison of his mind and fight an abomination of the gods to set his followers on the path to freedom."
Key story beats confirmed:
- ▶The Slayer is wounded and betrayed, cast into a frozen hell-purgatory
- ▶Khan Maykr returns — the DOOM Eternal antagonist is back
- ▶Flashback sequences explore the Slayer's mysterious past origins
- ▶A mysterious ally guides the path to escape
Content Breakdown (10–12 Hours)
The DLC splits roughly 60% story campaign / 40% endgame.
Story Campaign (~6–7 hours)
- ▶New levels with deeper puzzle design
- ▶A Metroidvania-style hub area with secrets between missions
- ▶Classic DOOM levels reimagined — original maps rebuilt with modern materials and effects
Endgame (~4–5 hours)
- ▶Campaign replay with added challenge modifiers and puzzles
- ▶Culminates in an uber boss fight
- ▶Master arenas demanding full mastery of both shield and Chain Spear in tandem
Ripatorium 3.0
| Addition | Details |
|---|---|
| New Maps | 3 DLC-exclusive arenas |
| New Demons | DLC-specific enemy types |
| Upgraded Weapons | Fully upgraded Chain Spear variants |
| Passcode System | Save and load custom configurations |
| Deeper Customization | Expanded preset and modifier options |
Base Game Review Scores
Revelations requires DOOM: The Dark Ages (released May 15, 2025). Here's how critics rated the base game:
| Outlet | Score | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic (PC) | 83/100 | Generally Favorable — 88% positive, 69 reviews |
| OpenCritic | 94% recommend | 95th percentile of all scored games |
| Game Informer | 9.5/10 | "Modern Doom executed better than ever" |
| Game Rant | 8/10 | "Eye-popping FPS with great new additions to the arsenal" |
| GameSpot | 8/10 | "Bold new direction without straying from its roots" |
| Eurogamer | 4/5 | "Grounded Doom, still as brisk and playful as ever" |
| PC Gamer | 80/100 | "Deliciously violent but surprisingly safe" |
Community Reaction
The base game holds Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam. Since the Revelations reveal at Xbox Games Showcase 2026 in June:
- ▶Community posts widely praised the Chain Spear as a spiritual successor to Eternal's Meat Hook — "more expressive movement, not just added mobility"
- ▶The Orbit mode drew comparisons to Sekiro's rhythm: "DOOM with a grapple-lock that changes the geometry of every fight"
- ▶Khan Maykr's return was the most-discussed bullet point among DOOM Eternal fans
- ▶The "larger than both Eternal DLCs combined" benchmark circulated as a reference point for what premium DLC should deliver in 2026
""There is a ton of freedom and weapon tech to discover here." — Hugo Martin (Xbox Wire, July 1, 2026)
Buying Guide
| Option | What's Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Edition | Base game + Revelations DLC | New buyers — best value |
| Premium Upgrade | DLC add-on for base game owners | Already own the game |
| Xbox Game Pass | Base game included; DLC separate | Subscribers |
| Base Game (Steam) | Base game only | Currently 67% off (sale ends July 10) |
"Note: The Steam Summer Sale ends July 10. Buying the base game at the discounted price now, then adding the DLC separately, is the most cost-efficient route for new players.
Who Should Play Revelations?
| Player Type | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| DOOM Eternal fans | ✅ Day one | Khan Maykr is back; Chain Spear evolves the Meat Hook |
| Dark Ages completionists | ✅ Instant buy | New weapon tree + extended endgame |
| FPS newcomers | ⚠️ Base game first | Revelations assumes mastery of core combat |
| Skipped DOOM Eternal | ✅ Go ahead | Dark Ages → Revelations is a clean standalone path |
Verdict
DOOM: The Dark Ages – Revelations is shaping up to be the definitive reason to return to the Slayer's medieval saga. The Chain Spear doesn't just add a weapon — it fundamentally changes the game's movement language, bridging Dark Ages' tanky stand-and-fight philosophy with the kinetic aggression of Eternal. With a genuine 10-12 hour runtime, the return of Khan Maykr, and Ripatorium 3.0 for the hardcore crowd, this is what first-party DLC looks like when studios actually commit to the value proposition.
DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations — July 7, 2026