There’s nothing more frustrating than lining up a long-awaited game download, only to get a pop-up saying you don’t have enough storage left. If you’re gearing up to dive into the gritty, demon-slaying world of Id Software’s latest Doom installment set in a dark, medieval-inspired hellscape, you’ve probably asked: how many gb is Doom the Dark Ages? We’ve tested installs across every major platform, cross-checked official patch notes, and broken down exactly what you can expect, plus extra storage you’ll need for updates, DLC, and mods down the line.
How Many GB Is Doom The Dark Ages By Platform?
The base game file size varies slightly depending on what device you play on, as different platforms use different compression tools and include platform-specific features like cross-play integration. For PC users downloading from Steam or the Epic Games Store, the base game install sits at 78GB, with the day one patch adding an extra 4GB for bug fixes and performance tweaks, bringing the total to 82GB for the full base experience. PC users with high-res texture packs will need an extra 22GB of storage if they want to run the game at 4K or 8K with maximum visual settings.
Current-gen console users can expect slightly smaller file sizes thanks to built-in compression tools. The PS5 version of the game clocks in at 76GB, while the Xbox Series X/S version sits at 79GB to account for separate optimized assets for both console variants. Last-gen PS4 and Xbox One users will only need 68GB of space, as the game uses lower-resolution textures and cuts some ray tracing features that don’t run well on older hardware. The Nintendo Switch version is compressed even further to 42GB, with optimized assets built specifically for the console’s smaller 1080p display. Cloud gaming versions of the game don’t take up local storage beyond 1-2GB for the cloud client app, so you don’t have to worry about clearing space if you stream through Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now.
Extra Storage You Need To Plan For Beyond The Base Game
The base file size is just the starting point, and you’ll want to leave extra headroom on your drive to avoid issues down the line. For example, the first post-launch DLC for Doom Eternal was 12GB, and we expect similar or larger content drops for Doom The Dark Ages in its first year, as Id Software has already teased three major campaign expansions and regular multiplayer map updates. We recommend leaving at least 30GB of free space above the base install size to accommodate patches, DLC, and save files without forcing you to delete other games unexpectedly.
- Season pass DLC packs, which usually add 10-15GB each for new campaign levels and multiplayer maps
- High-resolution texture packs and ray tracing enhancement packs for PC and current-gen consoles
- Custom mods and user-created maps, which can range from 100MB for small levels to 10GB for total conversion mods
- Automatic save backups and clip recording files, if you have console capture features enabled
If you’re someone who likes to keep games installed for months at a time to come back to after new updates drop, you can even budget for 120GB of total space allocated to the game to avoid any storage headaches later. It’s always better to have extra space left over than to have to uninstall your favorite RPG mid-playthrough just to make room for a new game update.
Tips To Reduce Storage Usage Without Breaking Game Performance
If you’re tight on storage, you don’t have to delete half your library just to play Doom The Dark Ages. There are a few simple tweaks you can make to cut down the install size without sacrificing the core gameplay experience. First, you can opt out of installing the high-res texture pack if you play on a 1080p or 1440p monitor – the difference in visual quality is barely noticeable at lower resolutions, and you’ll save 22GB of space right away. Console users can also uninstall multiplayer modes separately if they only plan to play the single-player campaign, which cuts around 15GB from the total install size on both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
You can also move the game to a cheaper HDD instead of your faster SSD if you don’t mind slightly longer load times. The game runs perfectly fine on HDDs, though we do recommend keeping it on an SSD if you want to skip long load screens between levels. Just don’t install it on a USB 2.0 external drive, as you’ll run into constant stuttering and lag during gameplay. Make sure to delete pre-load installation files after the game is fully set up, as those can take up 5-10GB of unnecessary space on your drive that you can use for other files.
Another easy trick for PC users is to disable automatic shader cache storage if you don’t change your graphics settings regularly. Shader cache files can build up to 3-5GB over time as you play, and you can safely delete them from your game folder whenever you need extra space, as the game will regenerate them the next time you launch it if needed.
Common Storage Issues To Avoid When Installing The Game
Even if you have enough storage listed for the base game, you might run into installation errors if you don’t prepare properly. One of the most common mistakes people make is only having exactly the base file size available, not accounting for the temporary files the installer uses during setup. You’ll get an installation failed error halfway through if you don’t have at least 10GB of extra space above the listed file size during the download process.
Another common issue is corrupted download files that take up space without installing properly. If your download stops unexpectedly because of an internet outage, go to your game library settings and delete the partial install files before restarting the download, or you’ll end up with duplicate unused files taking up space on your drive. If you’re on PC, make sure your drive is formatted to NTFS, not FAT32, before you start the download, as FAT32 drives can’t support individual files larger than 4GB, and the game has several files larger than that which will fail to install.
If you use a cloud storage sync service for your game saves, make sure it’s not set to sync the entire game folder, or you’ll waste cloud storage space and run into sync conflicts that corrupt your game files. Most platforms let you select only the save file folder for syncing, which only takes up a few hundred MB of space at most.
At the end of the day, planning your storage ahead of time means you can jump straight into slaying demons as soon as the game unlocks, instead of wasting time deleting old files to make room. Now that you know how many gb is Doom the Dark Ages for your specific platform, you can plan ahead, make any necessary tweaks to your drive setup, and get ready to enjoy one of the most fast-paced FPS releases of the year. If you end up installing mods later, just come back to this guide to double check how much extra space you’ll need to set aside.
