Bethesda has announced that an open beta for the multiplayer component of its upcoming Doom reboot will take place from April 15-17. The beta period will be open to all across PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 — just log in and download the client once it’s made available, and you’re in.
Players will be able to sample the game’s Team Deathmatch and Warpath modes on two maps from the selection set to be included at launch: Heatwave and Infernal. The announcement also featured some details on the schedule currently being drawn up for post-launch content.
The game’s SnapMap functionality has been created as a method of making it easy for players to create and share playable content on consoles as well as PC. To ensure that creative players continue to experiment with the toolset, free map modules, props and objects, and new features are set to be added for free. New multiplayer modes are also going to be added free of charge.
Of course, these items are intended to court players in the hopes that they will invest in the season pass, also. Three premium multiplayer packs are scheduled for release, with the first set to hit this summer. The inaugural DLC package contains the following:
- Three new maps
- One new weapon
- One new playable demon
- One new armor set
- One new piece of equipment
- New hack modules
- New taunts
- New customization colors and patterns
While the pricing seems fair considering the content on offer, there will be many who are disappointed to hear that multiplayer DLC is on the way for Doom. In a multiplayer shooter like this, there’s always the threat of a player base being fractured when some players don’t own all the available maps — which can make it much more difficult to find a match.
Doom is set to release for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on May 13, 2016. Its DLC packs will be priced at $14.99 apiece, with a season pass that gives access to all three packs available for $39.99.
