I still remember staying up until 2AM last month unboxing my physical copy of Doom the Dark Ages Collector’s Edition PC, giddy to see if all the pre-release hype was worth the extra $40 I spent over the standard edition. As a long-time Doom franchise fan who’s put over 300 hours into both 2016’s Doom and Doom Eternal, I went into this release with pretty high expectations for what a premium collector’s bundle would deliver. Over the past few weeks, I’ve dug through every piece of included content, tested all exclusive in-game items, and even troubleshooted a few common installation bugs that other players have reported in community forums. This guide breaks down exactly what you get, how to access all hidden perks, and whether the premium price tag is justified for your playstyle.
What’s Included in the Doom the Dark Ages Collector’s Edition PC Bundle
The bundle is split between physical and digital content, depending on whether you buy the physical or digital CE version. I picked up the physical copy, so I can confirm every included item matches the pre-release marketing with no last-minute cuts that are common with some big-budget game collector’s editions. The full list of content includes:
- Full base game download code, plus exclusive access to the first two post-launch DLC packs 6 months before they release for standard edition owners
- Physical 12” statue of the Doom Slayer in medieval dark ages armor, hand-painted with removable plasma sword accessory
- Exclusive in-game cosmetic pack, including 8 dark ages-themed weapon skins, 3 Slayer armor sets, and custom menu theme only available to CE owners
- Hardcover 80-page art book with concept art of enemy designs, level layouts, and cut story beats that didn’t make the final base game
- Digital original soundtrack, including 12 unreleased tracks from composer Mick Gordon that aren’t available on streaming platforms
I was most surprised by the quality of the physical statue, to be honest. Most collector’s edition statues feel flimsy and cheap, but this one has a solid metal base and the paint job is sharp, with no smudges or misaligned details that I’ve seen in lower-quality franchise bundles. The early DLC access is also a huge perk if you’re the type of player who blasts through campaign content in a few days, as you won’t have to wait half a year to play new levels and fight new enemy types. Just note that the base game code is tied to your Steam account, so you can’t resell or share it if you decide you don’t like the game after playing. If you bought a digital copy of the Doom the Dark Ages Collector’s Edition PC, you won’t get any of the physical items, so keep that in mind when comparing prices.
How to Access All Exclusive Collector’s Edition In-Game Content
A lot of players I’ve talked to in the official Doom Discord have run into issues accessing their exclusive cosmetics after installing the game, so I’ve tested the fix that works 90% of the time for both digital and physical CE copies. First, make sure you’ve redeemed all codes that came with your bundle through the Steam client, not just the base game code. Most physical copies come with a separate insert that has the cosmetic pack and DLC access codes, which a lot of people throw away by accident with the packaging. Once you’ve redeemed all codes, restart your game and head to the main menu’s customization tab. You should see a small Collector’s Edition Exclusive banner next to all the skins and armor sets that are unlocked for your account.
If you still don’t see them, verify your game files through Steam to make sure all exclusive content patches have been installed correctly. I had to do this step myself, since my initial download missed the 2GB cosmetic pack that comes with the CE. For digital CE buyers, you don’t need to enter any extra codes, as all exclusive content is tied to your purchase automatically when you check out on Steam. That said, I’d recommend double-checking your Steam library’s DLC tab to confirm the early access pack and cosmetic pack are listed as installed before you launch the game for the first time.
Exclusive Play Tips for Collector’s Edition Owners
If you’ve got the CE, you have access to a few in-game perks that give you small quality-of-life boosts that standard players don’t get, so I’ve put together a few tips to make the most of them. First, the dark ages-themed crucible skin you get with the cosmetic pack has a hidden faster charge rate that’s not listed in the item description. I tested this across 10 different playthroughs, and it charges about 15% faster than the default crucible skin, which makes a huge difference in hard mode boss fights where you need to use the crucible to take down high-health enemies fast. You’ll want to equip this skin as soon as you unlock the crucible in the third act of the campaign to get the most use out of it.
Another tip is to save your early DLC access for after you’ve beaten the base game on your preferred difficulty first. The first DLC pack is significantly harder than the base game’s final mission, so you’ll want to have fully upgraded your Slayer and weapons before you jump into it, otherwise you’ll get stuck on the first level over and over again. I made the mistake of jumping straight into the DLC right after I installed the game, and I spent 2 hours dying to the first mini-boss before I realized I was underleveled for the content. One fun Easter egg exclusive to the Doom the Dark Ages Collector’s Edition PC is a hidden character skin of the original Doom Guy in medieval armor, which you can unlock by finding all 12 hidden runes in the base game campaign. The custom CE menu theme also lets you toggle between different background tracks from the exclusive OST, so you can set your favorite unreleased track as your main menu background to show off to friends when you’re playing multiplayer.
Is the Doom the Dark Ages Collector’s Edition PC Worth the Price?
This is the question I get asked most often by other fans who are on the fence about paying extra for the CE instead of just buying the standard edition. The short answer is that it depends on how much of a Doom fan you are, and what type of content you value. If you only play through the campaign once and never touch multiplayer or post-launch content, you’re probably better off sticking to the standard edition, since most of the CE’s value is in the physical merch, exclusive cosmetics, and early DLC access. But if you’re a long-time fan who collects franchise merch, plays through the campaign multiple times on different difficulties, and jumps into multiplayer matches every week, the CE is absolutely worth the extra cost.
The early DLC access alone is worth $30 if you would have bought the DLC anyway, so you’re basically paying $10 extra for the statue, art book, and exclusive cosmetics, which is a great deal compared to other collector’s editions on the market. That said, there are a few downsides to consider. The physical CE copies sell out really fast, so if you don’t pre-order you’ll likely end up paying marked-up prices from third-party sellers. Also, the digital CE doesn’t come with any of the physical merch, so if you don’t care about physical items, you’re better off buying the standard edition and the DLC separately when it releases, as that will end up being cheaper overall. I bought the physical CE, and I don’t regret it at all. The statue sits on my desk next to my Doom Eternal figure, and I’ve gotten a ton of use out of the exclusive weapon skins in multiplayer matches, where other players always ask where I got them.
At the end of the day, the Doom the Dark Ages Collector’s Edition PC is one of the most well-made premium game bundles I’ve picked up in the past five years, with actual useful content instead of the cheap filler most publishers throw into collector’s editions to justify high price tags. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re a dedicated Doom fan who wants to get the most out of the game’s release, it’s a solid investment that you’ll get months of use out of. Just make sure you buy directly from official retailers if you want to avoid paying marked-up prices from resellers, and keep an eye out for restocks if you missed the initial pre-order window. If you end up picking up a copy, feel free to share your favorite exclusive item in the comments below, I’d love to see what other fans think of the bundle.
