Cutting corners: Gamers who purchase physical copies of Doom: The Dark Ages should probably slide the disc into their consoles as soon as possible, as the game requires downloading dozens of gigabytes. Although the Nintendo Switch 2’s game-key cards have faced sharp criticism for requiring full game downloads, an online database shows that the practice has also affected major recent releases on other platforms.

According to DoesItPlay.org, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X discs for Doom: The Dark Ages contain virtually no game data. Like the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2’s game-key cards, inserting these discs merely initiates a download of the full digital version.

The PS5 disc includes approximately 85MB of data, while the Xbox Series X disc contains about 300MB. Although the exact Xbox download size remains unknown, the PS5 version requires an 84GB download. A press screenshot of the PC version indicates that the Steam download is around 64GB. Once installed, an internet connection is no longer required to play.

One of our lovely Patreon Supporters got their hands on a copy of DOOM: The Dark Ages PS5 early.

Just a 85 MB stub and a blocker to go online and update.

(deleted the previous tweet about this due to hope getting in the way of our basic reading ability ;-)) pic.twitter.com/nMq5VwsR8Y

– Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1) May 9, 2025

Nintendo raised concerns that nearly-empty physical copies of console games might become standard after revealing the Switch 2’s game-key cards. However, requiring full digital downloads for physical editions has been somewhat common for years.

DoesItPlay examines what happens when new-release game discs are inserted into consoles while offline, revealing that physical copies of numerous titles contain little to no content.

Bethesda appears to have standardized this approach, as both Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ship on discs with only partial data. Similarly, NBA 2K25, Hogwarts Legacy, and Alan Wake II only enable early gameplay segments before requiring downloads.

Beyond the inconvenience of delayed playtime, this trend raises serious concerns about game preservation.

The Call of Duty series presents a particularly extreme example. Activision faced backlash for releasing Modern Warfare II with just 70MB on the disc and a required 150GB download. Shockingly, the following two titles, Modern Warfare III and Black Ops 6, contain the same data from Modern Warfare II. From there, users can download gameplay modes independently.

Beyond the inconvenience of delayed playtime, this trend raises serious concerns about game preservation. These discs function more as physical licenses that can be traded or sold, signaling a shift toward an all-digital future. While this is already the case on PC, the presence of multiple digital storefronts offers users more flexibility. For example, Doom (2016) recently launched DRM-free on GOG.

Doom: The Dark Ages has received generally favorable reviews, praised for its expansive levels, impressive visuals, and enjoyable combat. However, the requirement for ray tracing makes it difficult to run on lower-end PCs.

Customers who purchase an Nvidia RTX 5070, 5070 Ti, 5080, or 5090 will receive a free copy of the game. Doom: The Dark Ages will unlock on Game Pass, Battle.net, and Steam on May 15 at midnight New Zealand time (8 PM ET on May 14). The premium edition offers two days of early access. Additionally, the Xbox, Windows Store, and Battle.net versions support cross-buy functionality.