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Doom 64 re-release will include a completely new chapter and other upgrades
Bethesda tapped Nightdive Studios last year to re-release Doom 64 alongside Doom Eternal, but it looks like the long-forgotten shooter will be getting an upgrade for its 21st century debut.
Speaking to USgamer, developers from Nightdive had a lot to say about the psuedo-canonical second sequel to 1993’s Doom. The biggest news, delivered by Senior Developer James Haley, is that Doom 64 will ship with a completely new chapter that’ll link it even more closely to the events of 2016’s Doom:
Doom 64 has been discussed a lot in the lead-up to Doom Eternal, especially by Eternal’s co-director Hugo Martin. Can you talk about any connections Doom fans should keep an eye out for in either game?
James Haley, senior developer: On our end, persistent players will have the opportunity to unlock a new chapter in the Doomguy’s saga, taking place shortly after [Doom 64’s] original campaign concludes. The Mother Demon you defeated in that outing had a sister, and since you’ve been messing up Hell non-stop, she tries to get rid of you by sending you away. If you can make your way back and take revenge, you’ll be rewarded with a bit of lore that fans of both series, new and classic, should enjoy.
This new version of Doom 64 will include a number of other upgrades, including an Autorun option, new brightness settings (Doom 64 was notoriously hard-to-see on CRTs), a blood color toggle (Japanese players got green blood back in 1997 and now everyone will have that option), and touch control of the automap and optional motion aiming on the PS4 and Switch.
Doom 64 will be available to download for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on March 20.
Bethesda’s Doom 64 re-release gets a new trailer
Doom 64 debuted as the official third entry in the FPS franchise for the Nintendo 64 all the way back in 1997, but id Software (and now Bethesda) has kept it locked in a vault ever since. Thankfully, that all changes next Spring when the game returns in a new re-release for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
While that wait might feel like an eternity, Bethesda did unveil a brand new trailer for Doom 64 today, and it’s been embedded above. The publisher also reconfirmed that fans who pre-order Doom Eternal will receive a free download code for Doom 64 as part of that game’s Rip and Tear Pack, which also includes the DOOT Revenant Player Skin, the Throwback Shotgun Weapon Skin, and the Cultist Base Master Level.
Doom 64 will be released for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on March 20, 2020. Doom Eternal will arrive on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on the same day, and on the Switch at a later date.
Bethesda delays Doom Eternal and Doom 64 to March 20, 2020
Bethesda has dropped a BFG-sized blast on Doom Eternal‘s release date, as the publisher has announced that it’ll no longer be available this November.
Instead, the sequel to 2016’s Doom will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on March 20, 2020. Doom Eternal is also in development for the Switch, but it’ll make its debut on Nintendo’s console “after the other platforms.” As you might expect, Bethesda cited a need for more “polish” as the reason for the delay:
Throughout the development of Doom Eternal, our goal has been to deliver a game that exceeds your greatest expectations across the board.
To make sure we’re delivering the best experience — for Doom Eternal to live up to our standards of speed and polish — we’ve made the decision to extend our launch date by a few months to March 20, 2020. We know many fans will be disappointed by this delay, but we are confident that Doom Eternal will deliver a gaming experience that is worth the wait.
Sadly, this delay also applies to the digital debut of Doom 64, which will now launch on March 20, 2020 as well. But fans will be happy to know that the re-release won’t be limited to the Switch, as Bethesda has confirmed that Doom 64 is in the works for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
And on note, the publisher also announced that everyone who pre-orders Doom Eternal on the platform of their choice will also receive a free download code for Doom 64.
Doom 64 rated by Australian Classification Board
Though Doom 64 is canonically a direct sequel to Doom II, the fact that it was released exclusively for the Nintendo 64 (and published by Midway) has made it something of a black sheep for the franchise. It’s sprite-based graphics also made it stand out (and not in a good way) from the polygonal shooters of the late 90s.
But a handful of references to Doom 64 managed to make their way into 2016’s excellent Doom reboot, so somebody at id Software or Bethesda must think highly of the game. And after those teases (and on the eve of Doom Eternal‘s November launch), it looks like the publisher might be prepping a re-release for Doom 64.
Over the weekend, a Doom 64 re-release for “Multiple Platforms” received a Mature rating from the Australian Classification Board for “Horror themes and violence.” While that can’t be seen as concrete confirmation that Bethesda plans to re-release the game in the near future, it should be considered a very good sign.
So cross your fingers and gas up your chainsaws, we’ll hopefully get the chance to replay Doom 64 soon.