Why Doom The Dark Ages PS5 Physical Edition Has Gamers Fuming

The release of Doom The Dark Ages has cooked up a storm in the gaming world, but not for the reasons you might expect. Players who pre-ordered the physical PS5 version were shocked to find out that the disc doesn’t contain the full game—instead, it requires a massive internet download. This has sparked a widespread frustration. Let’s see exactly what is happening and why it’s such a huge deal for gamers.

What’s Wrong with the Physical Disc?

When you pop the Doom The Dark Ages PS5 disc into your console, you won’t find the full game waiting for you. The disc only holds about 85MB of data, which acts like a key to unlock the real thing—a hefty 85GB download from the internet. That’s right: even with a physical copy in hand, you need a stable internet connection and a lot of bandwidth to get started. This detail was confirmed by outlets like Eurogamer and NotebookCheck. For gamers who bought the physical version expecting to play offline or avoid long downloads, this feels like a bait-and-switch.

How The Doom The Dark Ages Gaming Community Is Reacting

The backlash has been swift and loud. On social media and forums, players are venting their disappointment. Many see physical discs as a way to truly own a game, free from the hassles of digital downloads or internet dependency. When news broke about the download requirement, some fans canceled their pre-orders outright, according to GameRant. On X users like @danielgodfrey have called it a betrayal of trust, while @DanTremarco warned it could signal “the death of physical media.” It’s clear this isn’t just about convenience—it’s about what physical games represent to fans.

What This Means for Gaming’s Future

This situation with Doom The Dark Ages isn’t an isolated incident. The gaming industry has been shifting toward digital distribution for many years now. With more titles requiring downloads or going digital-only. As TechSpot points out, this trend raises big questions about game preservation and access. What happens to players in areas with spotty internet? Or years from now when servers eventually have to shut down? For collectors and offline gamers the shrinking role of physical media feels like a loss of control over the games they love so much.

Final Thoughts

The talks over the Doom The Dark Ages physical PS5 version shows how much gamers still care about physical media in an increasingly digital world. It’s not just about downloading a game—it’s about ownership, accessibility, and trust. Have you run into this issue with other titles? Let us know in the comments! For more on this story and other gaming updates, visit Total Apex Gaming or dive into our news section.