DOOM: The Dark Ages – Performance Deep Dive: DLSS 4, Steam Deck Surprises, and Known Issues
DOOM: The Dark Ages is finally here, and it's making waves across the PC gaming landscape. From leveraging the latest in NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology to surprising performance on the Steam Deck, and addressing early access issues, here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the newest installment in the DOOM saga.
DLSS 4: A Performance Powerhouse
According to NVIDIA, DOOM: The Dark Ages is showcasing the power of DLSS 4 with incredible performance gains. Gamers with GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs can see an average 4x performance increase at 4K resolution using DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation. GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs also benefit with doubled performance using DLSS Frame Generation, and all GeForce RTX GPUs can enhance image quality with DLSS Super Resolution.
NVIDIA highlighted the game's impressive visuals:
- GamesRadar+: “DOOM: The Dark Ages uses NVIDIA’s toolkit as a performance BFG”
- GameRant: “id tech 8 combined with the power of NVIDIA’s RTX 50-series graphics cards are a match made in heaven.”
- PC Gamer: “Doom: The Dark Ages is the poster child for NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.”
- DSOGaming: “DLSS 4 Implementation is amazing”
- GAMINGTREND: “From a technical perspective, DOOM: The Dark Ages is a triumph.”
The game also accelerates ray tracing with GeForce RTX Ray Tracing Cores and NVIDIA Reflex to reduce latency. A post-launch update will introduce PC-exclusive Path Tracing.
Steam Deck's Surprising Playability
Despite initial concerns about hardware limitations, DOOM: The Dark Ages is surprisingly playable on the Steam Deck. A new SteamOS preview build allows the game to launch, and with graphical settings turned down to “Low” and FSR upscaling set to “Performance,” players can achieve a reasonably steady 30 to 40 fps at the system's native 1280×800 resolution. While the lack of ray tracing is a compromise, the fact that this graphically intensive game runs on the Steam Deck at all is noteworthy.
Known Issues & Fixes
As with any major game release, DOOM: The Dark Ages isn't without its problems. id Software has released a FAQ detailing known issues across platforms. PC players on RTX 50 series GPUs may experience crashing with G-Sync or V-Sync enabled. Other issues include game locking when resizing the window manually with AMD FSR, and the game launching in the background if alt-tabbing on an NVIDIA GPU. Some of these issues will require driver fixes.
Here are a few key fixes to note:
- Crashing on RTX 50 series with G-Sync/V-Sync: Disable these options in the NVIDIA control panel or in-game.
- Alt-Tabbing Issues on NVIDIA GPUs: Avoid Alt-Tabbing during game launch.
- OBS Freezing: Capture in Windowed or Borderless mode.
- Game Locking with FSR FrameGen: Avoid manually resizing the game window with FSR FrameGen enabled.
Players should also avoid running the game with MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner overlays enabled, as they can cause stability issues. If you are encountering persistent crashing with an Intel CPU model starting with 13 or 14, it could be a sign of a corrupted CPU.
What's Next?
DOOM: The Dark Ages has made a strong impact, pushing the boundaries of gaming technology and surprising players with its accessibility. As id Software continues to address known issues and NVIDIA refines its DLSS technologies, the future looks bright for this latest chapter in the DOOM saga.
What are your thoughts on DOOM: The Dark Ages? Are you impressed with DLSS 4 or its Steam Deck performance? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below!
