- Primary Release: The highly anticipated campaign expansion is officially out as of July 7, 2026.
- New Weaponry: Master the deadly Chain Spear to grapple, parry, and execute heavy ground slams.
- Vast Campaign: Fight through 6 brutal levels set in a frozen purgatory.
- Endgame Arena: Dive into Ripatorium 3.0 with custom passcode sharing and 3 exclusive new maps.
- How to Access: Available standalone for $19.99 USD or included in the Premium Edition and Collector's Bundle.
Doom The Dark Ages Revelations Available July 7: Launch Details
The wait is finally over. The first major story expansion, DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations, officially launched on July 7, 2026. Slayers around the world can now dive back into the brutal dark fantasy universe of id Software's legendary FPS series.
Wounded and betrayed following the events of the base game, the Slayer is thrust into a frozen, merciless purgatory. To escape this mental and physical prison, you must confront haunting truths, forge an alliance with a mysterious entity, and dismantle an abomination of the gods.
Video Highlights:
- The Frozen Purgatory: A first look at the chilling, snowy gothic environments.
- Chain Spear Combat: Showcasing high-speed grapples, defensive parries, and devastating sweeps.
- New Bosses & Minions: Brief glimpses of the Warlock, Buzzsaw, and the massive Agaddon Brute Champion.
Pricing & Platform Matrix
To help you get started immediately, we have compiled the official release details, platform availability, and purchase methods below:
| Platform / Edition | Access Type | Price (USD) | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone DLC | Add-on Purchase | $19.99 | Requires base game to play on Steam, Xbox, or PS5. |
| Premium Upgrade | Expansion Bundle | $34.99 | Upgrades Standard Edition to include Revelations and bonus cosmetics. |
| Premium Edition | Full Game Bundle | Included | Grants instant access to both base game and Revelations at launch. |
| Collector's Bundle | Physical/Digital | Included | Ultimate physical collection containing the DLC voucher. |
| Xbox PC / Series X|S | Play Anywhere | Included | Buy once, play on both Xbox Series X|S and PC via Microsoft Store. |
| Xbox Game Pass | Subscription | Base Game Only | Game Pass covers the base game; DLC must be purchased separately. |
Remember that DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations is not a standalone spin-off. You must own the base game, DOOM: The Dark Ages, on your respective platform to download and play this expansion.
New Combat Mechanics: The Chain Spear Guide
The defining feature of the Revelations expansion is the introduction of the Chain Spear. Taking over your left hand, this weapon alters the pacing of combat, bringing a layer of verticality and speed reminiscent of modern arena shooters while retaining the heavy, horizontal grit of the base game.
Chain Spear Core Abilities
Ranged Spear Throw
- Pinpoint distant targets to strike from afar.
- Breaks specific demon defenses.
- Charges up your empowerment meter.
High-Speed Pull
- Functions like a grappling hook.
- Pulls you directly to heavy enemies.
- Chains perfectly with mid-air dashes.
Perfect Timed Parry
- Deflects incoming enemy projectiles.
- Triggers a stagger window on attackers.
- Recovers armor shards on success.
Tactical Trajectory Control
By throwing the spear and holding the reel input, you can swing around corners, execute heavy ground slams, and alter your mid-air trajectory. This provides a vital tool for dodging high-impact attacks in crowded arenas.
| Traversal Mechanic | Input Method | Best Combat Scenario | Tactical Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spear Grapple | Hold Left Trigger | Closing gaps with flying Cosmic Elementals | Prevents enemies from maintaining distance |
| Ground Slam | Jump + Melee mid-air | Landing in a cluster of Acolytes | Deals massive area-of-effect stagger damage |
| Perfect Dodge | Dash during parry | Facing charging Buzzsaw demons | Increases the bullet-time slow-motion window |
If you are struggling to time your spear abilities, head to the settings menu. Update 4 allows you to place the Spear Empowerment Meter directly under your reticle and expand the Perfect Dodge Window for a more forgiving learning curve.
Beginner Walkthrough: Surviving the Frozen Purgatory
Stepping into the expansion can be jarring. The difficulty ramps up quickly, demanding immediate mastery of your new arsenal. Follow this step-by-step route to progress through the opening chapters of the campaign smoothly:
Initialize the DLC and Enable Tutorials
Launch the DLC from the main menu campaign screen. Bethesda highly recommends keeping Revelations Tutorials turned on for your first run, as they teach the subtle timing differences of the Chain Spear compared to the Shield Saw.
Chapter 1: Proving Grounds
Acquire the Oracle and fight through the icy ruins. Focus on learning how to solve the new shield-based door mechanisms by bouncing your Shield Saw off green skull targets. Collect the Blue Skull key to unlock the council chamber and defeat the Agaddon Brute Champion.
Chapter 2: Purgatory Hub
Enter the central hub of the expansion. Here, you will complete the advanced Chain Spear movement trials. Activate the central platform machinery and locate the frozen lever to melt the barrier blocking the path to Hell's Core.
Chapter 3: Hell's Core
Descend into the fiery depths where the environments twist between ice and lava. Use your spear to grapple across collapsing platforms, insert the Hell Battery to power the blast doors, and survive a high-pressure encounter against a dual-wave of Pinky Riders and Buzzsaw demons.
Do not stress over missing collectibles on your first run. Clearing the 6-level campaign unlocks a Replay Mode with all your upgraded gear, allowing you to easily sweep back through levels to achieve 100% completion.
New Demons, Champions, and Boss Counters
The Revelations DLC introduces a host of terrifying new threats and the return of iconic high-pressure casters. Knowing their weak points is the difference between survival and a swift trip back to the checkpoint.
Demon Threat Profiles
| Demon Name | Threat Level | Primary Attack Mechanic | Best Weapon Counter | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warlock | High | Casts tracking infernal sorcery and area denial spells | Chain Spear pull to interrupt casting | High |
| Buzzsaw | High | Fast-charging, jousting attacks that deal heavy damage | Side-step dodge followed by Super Shotgun to the rear wheel | High |
| Archvile | Very High | Summons shadow minions and buffs nearby demons | Heavy Plasma Rifle or BFC blast to stagger immediately | Critical |
| Cosmic Elemental | High | Spawns explosive flying projectiles in packs | Precision Bolt rifle shots to the central eye | Medium |
| Acolyte | Medium | Generates mirror illusions to distract the Slayer | Shield Saw sweep to clear copies instantly | Medium |
| Agaddon Brute | Boss | Devastating melee combos and heavy ground slams | Fill the purple stun bar with rapid-fire weapons, then execute | Critical |
Just like in classic entries, the Archvile is your absolute highest priority target. If left unchecked, it will endlessly summon shadow variants of Buzzsaws and Warlocks, quickly overwhelming the arena.
Secrets, Collectibles, and 100% Completion
For the completionists, Revelations offers a highly rewarding hunt across its six vast levels. Hidden pathways, puzzle gates, and optional combat encounters are scattered throughout the frozen wastes.
Completion Checklist
100% Campaign Milestones:
- Find all 12 hidden Codex Entries detailing the history of the Purgatory Hub
- Collect all 6 hidden Toy Models of the new DLC demons
- Locate and complete all 3 Special Combat Encounters for bonus weapon skins
- Acquire all 4 Suit Perks to fully upgrade your armor
- Discover the hidden Khan Maykr secret passage in Chapter 1
- Defeat the ultimate endgame encounter in the Master Arenas
Some secrets will not appear on your automap until you are physically close to them. Keep an eye out for glowing green skull markers and cracked ice walls that can be shattered using your Shield Charge.
Ripatorium 3.0: Custom Arenas & Passcodes
Alongside the DLC, the free Ripatorium 3.0 update has arrived for all players, introducing deep customization to the game's popular arena challenge mode. If you own the Revelations expansion, finishing the campaign unlocks three exclusive new maps, new demon spawns, and fully upgraded DLC loadouts for your custom builds.
Ripatorium Customization Features
- Improved Passcode Generation: Share your custom arena wave configurations using shorter, cleaner passcodes.
- Personal Presets: Save and load your favorite demon combinations, item pickup rules, and hazard layouts instantly.
- Continuous Spawn Mode: Keep the action flowing by enabling continuous wave spawning instead of waiting to clear the arena.
| Ripatorium Preset / Arena | Unlock Condition | Best Custom Rule Setup | Reward / Unlockable | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Hell's Core Arena | Complete Chapter 3 | No health pickups / Unlimited Berserk | Golden Chain Spear Skin | | Osseus Arena | Complete Chapter 5 | Continuous Spawn / 5-minute timer | Classic Doom Marine Armor | | Classic Arena | Complete Master Arenas | BFC Ammo set to 0 / Double Demon Health | Retro Sound Pack |
Created an incredibly tough custom wave? Generate your passcode in the Ripatorium 3.0 menu and share it with the community on the official DOOM Discord or the Doom Reddit to see who can survive your gauntlet!
PC System Requirements & Performance Settings
To ensure your system can handle the intense particle effects of the Chain Spear and the dense demon hordes, verify your hardware meets the official requirements.
Official PC Hardware Requirements
| Requirement Level | Target Resolution / FPS | CPU Requirement | GPU Requirement | RAM / Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p / 60 FPS / Low | AMD Zen 2 / Intel 10th Gen | RTX 2060 Super / RX 6600 (8GB VRAM) | 16GB RAM / 100GB NVMe SSD |
| Recommended | 1440p / 60 FPS / High | AMD Zen 3 / Intel 12th Gen | RTX 3080 / RX 6800 (10GB VRAM) | 32GB RAM / 100GB NVMe SSD |
| Ultra | 2160p / 60 FPS / Ultra | AMD Zen 3 / Intel 12th Gen | RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XT (16GB VRAM) | 32GB RAM / 100GB NVMe SSD |
Performance Optimization Tips
- GPU Drivers: Ensure you are running NVIDIA 610.74 WHQL (or later) or AMD Adrenalin 22.6.1 (or later) for optimal day-one stability.
- Upscaling: Turn on DLSS 4.5 or FSR with Frame Generation to boost framerates by up to 40% in heavy combat areas.
- Steam Deck Settings: The DLC is fully Steam Deck Verified. For the best experience, lock your frame rate to 40 FPS and use the Medium preset with FSR set to Balanced.
If you experience an issue where the Chain Spear tutorial displays "???" for keybinds, go to Settings > Inputs and reset your Slayer Controls to default to fix the mapping conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Doom The Dark Ages Revelations available July 7?
Yes! DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations officially launched on July 7, 2026, across Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
Q: Do I need the base game to play the Revelations DLC?
Yes, Revelations is a campaign expansion and requires the base game, DOOM: The Dark Ages, installed on your platform to play.
Q: What is included in the Ripatorium 3.0 update?
Ripatorium 3.0 is a free update for all players that adds deeper arena customization, improved passcode sharing, and personal preset saves. DLC owners also unlock 3 new maps, new demons, and fully upgraded weapons upon completing the story.
Q: How do I get the new Chain Spear weapon?
The Chain Spear is unlocked automatically during the campaign's second chapter in the Purgatory Hub, serving as both a deadly melee weapon and a high-speed traversal tool.