Whether you’re excited about it or not, Doom: The Dark Ages is going to be a pretty big deal. Both the 2016 reboot and 2020’s Eternal have more than proved that id Software’s legendary FPS is still capable of turning heads. In the run-up to the upcoming installment’s release, the developer has shared the new design for one of its most famous monsters, and it’s raising a few eyebrows.
Over on X, you can check out a quick teaser of Doom: The Dark Ages‘ version of the Cacodemon, the floating eyeball of a beast that’s been with the series since the beginning. It’s been given something of an overhaul but still largely retains its notable image. However, one thing that draws attention is how much it reminds some of Duke Nukem 3D.
cacodemon pic.twitter.com/HJulapw8Gu
— DOOM (@DOOM) April 8, 2025
With its hanging tendrils and cerebral matter poking out the top of its head, it’s putting people in-mind of the Octabrain. Check out the Cacodemon trailer above to see what you make of it.
There’s even a whole Reddit thread that discusses the design. On top of that, the whole thing seems to be a bit divisive. While some quite like the new look, others are either too fixated on how it reminds them of Duke Nukem 3D, or they just don’t feel id Software should have tinkered with the classic look. One user struggled to decide whether they like it or not, simply saying “that’s fucked up, I love it.” But that’s gaming fans for you.
Doom: The Dark Ages is just around the corner. Set to release on May 15, it will be available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It’s also coming to Game Pass on day one. Before you go, don’t forget to check out the Developer_Direct 2025 footage below.
