Recent Doom Leaks Could Be Pointing To A 30-Year First For The Franchise

The franchise hasn't been afraid to innovate over the years, but there's one yet-unexplored direction that the next game could finally be going in. A big part of 's appeal is a sense of consistent momentum and forward progression, an ideal first defined in 1993 with the original game's lightning-fast gameplay and revolutionary engine. If the gameplay innovation ever halted, would lose a lot of its appeal, but there are other ways to pivot that don't involve that kind of stagnation.

The idea that a new game is coming soon has been picking up a lot of traction thanks to recent leaks and reports surrounding an upcoming title. Thanks to the ending of the DLC for 2020's, however, it's been a bit unclear where exactly a new game might pick up. Although the Doom Slayer's story isn't a closed chapter, it does seem like a brief step away from his demon-killing adventures would make the most sense with the current status of the narrative.

A Doom 2 speedrunner does the impossible by managing to beat a world record that's stood for two and a half decades, shocking the game's community.

As reported by, the next game is set to be revealed at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, and it's apparently going to bear the name of . This intriguing title is accompanied by a description of a "" setting, seemingly confirming the idea that the dark ages concept is fairly literal. Although 's never placed much focus on chronology, this would mark the first time that the series might leap backward in time, further supported by a placeholder title of that predated the official name.

The futuristic sci-fi element of has always been one of its defining factors, making for an interesting mix with the Biblical nature of its threats. Moving to a lower-tech setting would shake up the formula in a major way, possibly trading in chainsaws, shotguns, and plasma rifles for swords, polearms, and hammers. Of course, it's also possible that the Doom Slayer or whoever stands at the forefront of the