Doom: The Dark Ages PS5 Trailer Frustrates Xbox Fans

Microsoft surprised everyone by releasing a new trailer for Doom: The Dark Ages exclusively on PlayStation's official YouTube channel. This has also made a lot of Xbox fans angry and confused. Doom: The Dark Ages is being developed by Bethesda and id Software, both of which are owned by Microsoft. It will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. However, the new trailer, which showcases a level called "Cosmic Realm," has only been released on PlayStation so far. It hasn't been released on Xbox or Bethesda's official channels yet.

The trailer, called "something special for PlayStation fans," gained over 500,000 views quickly. In it, the game's director talks directly to PS5 players. The video, taken on a PS5 Pro, shows a Lovecraftian-themed world with some of the series' most bizarre enemies so far. It not only shows off a new setting, but it also introduces the "Reaver Chain Shot," a new gun that seems to make battles more chaotic and fun.

The director hinted that The Dark Ages has "so many more secrets to reveal and legends to forge". He also promised "bloody, bone-crunching mayhem" that would be powered by the new id Tech 8 engine. The new technology is meant to give games "cutting-edge, ludicrous graphics," especially on the PS5.

When the game and level come out, they will be playable on all platforms. However, many Xbox users don't like the marketing push for Xbox only. Some see this as part of a larger trend, with Microsoft positioning its once-exclusive games as more multiplatform experiences. This is part of the company's ongoing effort to make its games more accessible and generate revenue in different ways.

Even with this strategic background, a lot of Xbox fans still feel let down. It was thought that Xbox channels would be the first places where new games from Microsoft-owned studios, especially big ones like Doom, would receive more attention. Some people have compared this to the idea that Sony might promote a game like Ghost of Tsushima mostly through Xbox's YouTube channels while ignoring its own. This would definitely make PlayStation fans scratch their heads.

People who follow the gaming industry say that PlayStation's YouTube channel is still one of the most popular in the world. It's likely that a lot of Doom: The Dark Ages sales will come from PlayStation users. However, the fact that Microsoft is directly targeting PlayStation users, even though Microsoft owns them, shows a significant change in strategy from just a year or two ago.

Some analysts say this could be the first time Microsoft uses a "platform-agnostic" marketing strategy, putting more emphasis on sales volume across all consoles than on keeping brand loyalists. Still, die-hard Xbox fans think it's a mistake, especially for a brand-new game in one of Microsoft's most famous acquired franchises.

At this point, it's still unclear whether the Xbox and Bethesda channels will share their own marketing materials or exclusive footage in the future. For now, Doom: The Dark Ages is an interesting example of how platform dynamics are changing in an increasingly connected gaming industry and how fan expectations are being put to the test.