Doom: The Dark Ages has been generating hype as the next brutal chapter in the franchise, but what's on the disc—or rather, what's not—has sparked a major wave of backlash.
A handful of fans got early copies of the game before the official May 15 release, but soon, many were asking the same question: where's the game? Buyers who got the physical editions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were shocked to discover that the disc contains only a sliver of the actual data.
The PS5 version is 85MB, and the Xbox version has a 328MB launcher file. The disc doesn't include the full game, only triggering an 80+ GB download. This reduces the disc to a key rather than a product, which understandably irked fans who still hold physical media in high regard.
Many had pre-ordered collector's editions, only to feel misled when they realized even the premium $200 versions included an "empty" disc. Some went as far as canceling their orders, arguing that there's no need for physical editions when the entire game must be downloaded.
This isn't a one-off case, as Bethesda had already put this distribution model to the test with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which came with just 20GB of content, even though the full game was over 100 GB. Microsoft's recent pattern of digital-first strategies has made some players feel like physical collectors are being phased out entirely.
This goes beyond Doom; it's about the loss of ownership, offline access, and game preservation. Some pointed out the irony that PS5 discs can hold up to 100GB, meaning the entire game could have fit on the disc. The fact that it wasn't included sparked accusations that this was never about logistics, but about reducing production costs and driving users to digital platforms.
Critics argue that this is a sign of the industry prioritizing digital ecosystems, subscription models, and server control over physical media. If the servers go offline or the game is pulled from digital shelves, physical copy owners are left with nothing but a blank disc.
This isn't just about preference—it's about long-term access to something people paid for. Baldur's Gate 3 shipped on multiple discs for preservation, as proof that this is still possible when developers prioritize it. Even though Doom: The Dark Ages is reviewing well, the game's launch is now clouded by controversy.
The frustration comes not only from collectors but also from average players who expect physical items to work right out of the box. What they get instead is 85MB and a request to download the rest.
For now, fans who still want to play the game are waiting for steep discounts, complete editions, or hoping for a future re-release that actually includes the full game on disc.
But for many others, this has already become a breaking point—proof that physical games are turning into nothing more than expensive placeholders.