id Software has just released the first major update for Doom: The Dark Ages and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this first patch for the new Doom game brings to the table.

For those wondering, no. This first patch does NOT add the promised Path Tracing on PC. We do know that this patch will come out this month. Or at least that was the plan a couple of months ago. So, we might get it by the end of June.

Title Update 1 fixes a rare crash after destroying the gore portal in Siege – Part 1. It also adds an additional control to customize image contrast when using HDR to fix issues where the image appeared washed out for some users.

The patch also brings some tweaks to both the Atlan and Dragon. For instance, the Dragon combat experience has been updated to allow players to move more swiftly through the experience. Most enemies will now only fire Hell Surge projectiles. According to the devs, this will allow for more opportunities to empower the Autocannon.

As for the Atlan, the update will reduce how long health drops linger in the world when in the Atlan. It will also update the Atlan combo system so that after using a Finisher, the player can still use the previous one.

This first update also comes with some gameplay tweaks and fixes. For example, it resolves an issue in which the Shredder could lose functionality after performing an execute move. It also addresses a bug where the Shield Saw could lose functionality after being caught, then melee attacking a dazed enemy. Plus, it fixes an issue with upgrade functionality not working when re-equipping a shield rune after maxing out the upgrades.

Like always, Steam will download this update the next time you launch its client. For those wondering, the patch is around 1.2GB in size on PC. Below, you can also find its complete changelog. So, go ahead and take a look at all the fixes, tweaks, and changes.

Doom: The Dark Ages Patch 1 Release Notes

Improvements and Adjustments – All Platforms

• Adjusted audio mix so music and sound effects are more balanced at Default levels (For best results we recommend you reset audio settings to Default)

• Reduced the amount of time health drops remain active during Atlan missions
• Sprint VFX are now disabled for auto-sprint

General gameplay balance refinements (some of these were previously Active Tunables that have been removed from that article and committed to the game in Update 1). These are denoted below as: (*PT) for “Previous Tunable”

Atlan

• (*PT) Reduced how long health drops linger in the world when in the Atlan
• (*PT) Updated the Atlan combo system so that after using a Finisher, the player can still use the previous one

• • Players were paying too much to use a Finisher, which led to holding on for the most powerful attacks and then cashing out. This creates a more dynamic combat experience that rewards building up multiple Finishers for extended combos and more strategic decision-making

Dragon

• Dragon combat experience has been updated to allow players to move more swiftly through the experience

• • Most enemies faced when on the Dragon will now only fire Hell Surge projectiles, allowing for more opportunities to empower the Autocannon
  • The Empowered state for the Dragon’s Autocannon now lasts longer
  • (*PT) Empowered shots from the Dragon’s Autocannon after a perfect dodge will go through projectile shields

Bug Fixes – All Platforms

Achievements

• Resolved an issue in which some users could not unlock the Berserker Achievement/Trophy upon obtaining the necessary upgrades. This should resolve retroactively for affected users

Audio

• Fixed an issue with music potentially pausing when transitioning between levels
• Addressed an issue in which VO was getting cut off during ending cinematic for The Holy City of Aratum

Ultra-Nightmare

• Difficulty Settings – adjusted the modified (M*) tag to persist after reverting to Default Settings in Ultra-Nightmare
• Fixed an issue in which the Death Marker did not display the correct enemy name when killed by an armored Leader or Enforcer
• Addressed the Death Marker so it no longer displays “???” when the player is killed by the ground spike AoE attack from any Cyberdemon variant
• Updated the Death Marker so the Mancubus (who fires acid hazards) name now displays correctly

Cinematics

• Fixed an issue in which the sound effects were not consistently playing during the interstitial sequences in The Old One boss fight
• Fixed an issue with music potentially dropping out during cinematics
• Addressed issues with subtitle timings for multiple languages

Crashes

• Fixed rare crash after destroying the gore portal in Siege – Part 1

Gameplay

• Resolved an issue in which the Shredder could lose functionality after performing an execute move
• Addressed a bug where the Shield Saw could lose functionality after being caught, then melee attacking a dazed enemy
• Fixed an issue with upgrade functionality not working when re-equipping a shield rune after maxing out the upgrades

Menus

• Fixed an issue in which some players were unable to select and enter The Holy City of Aratum via the level select menu
• The Battle Knight codex is now obtainable and will appear in the Codex menu
• Addressed issues in which the Chapter Selection text and the Command Bar UI element would flicker
• Fixed an issue encountered by some players where Campaign map completion was reset to 25% after the previous update
• Resolved an issue in which players could skip to future levels by highlighting them in the Level Selection menu
• The Arachnotron Codex page now appears consistently within the Dossier
• Addressed an issue in which the “Field Of View” menu slider could lose functionality after cutscenes or Shield bashing through a wall
• Resolved issues in which opening/closing the Dossier and reloading Checkpoints could cause the Shredder Barbed upgrade to unequip itself and the Pincushion and Ricochet upgrades would be equipped simultaneously
• Menus – the (M*) marker is now present on Campaign Save Files that have been modified

Rendering

• Added an additional control to customize image contrast when using HDR to fix issues where the image appeared washed out for some users

John Papadopoulos

John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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