Is the Next Doom Game Reveal Imminent? All Eyes on the June Xbox Games Showcase!

Recent evidence suggests that the next Doom game may be revealed very soon. The last entry in the franchise, Doom Eternal, was launched four years ago, giving developer id Software ample time to prepare an announcement for the next title.

Launched in 1993, the Doom series revolutionized the gaming industry, being one of the first examples of 3D graphics in games. id Software rebooted the franchise with 2016's Doom, which was a major success due to its intense "rip and tear" gameplay and Mick Gordon's exceptional heavy metal soundtrack. This was followed by 2020's Doom Eternal, which doubled the launch weekend revenue of its predecessor. id Software further enhanced Eternal with two DLCs, The Ancient Gods Part One and Part Two, by 2021.

Since then, there has been significant speculation about what id Software has been working on. A 2023 leak suggested that the studio was developing a new Doom game, dubbed Doom Year Zero, though this remains unconfirmed. However, recent hints indicate that the reveal of id's next game could be imminent. The Verge recently published a report with alleged insights into the Xbox business, stating at the end, "Microsoft will be banking on some new game announcements lifting the Doom around Xbox."

The June Xbox Games Showcase May Hold All the Answers

This statement clearly refers to upcoming announcements at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, but the capitalization and italicization of the word "Doom" appear to hint at the next Doom game being featured in the show. Additionally, a recently discovered Zenimax trademark for a game titled "IDKFA" has further fueled speculation among Doom fans, as IDKFA is a cheat code from the 1990s Doom games. While trademarks are not always accurate indicators of imminent game reveals, the surrounding evidence and the four-year gap since the last Doom title lend credibility to the speculation.

Developer id Software has always pushed the technical boundaries with Doom games, but one of their most iconic features is their hardware flexibility, both powerful and limited. The best example is the original 1993 Doom game being ported to a lawnmower. Doom Eternal exemplified this as well, being released on every platform from the handheld Nintendo Switch to the current-gen PS5. It will be interesting to see if the next Doom game continues this tradition, as it will likely be developed only for current-gen hardware and may even be exclusive to Xbox and PC.