DOOM: The Dark Ages Update 1.003 Drops for PS5 But Doesn’t Fix Some of the Most Annoying Bugs
[summaraize]
Bethesda and id Software have released the first post-release patch for DOOM: The Dark Ages on PS5, and it’s a minor bug that doesn’t resolve some of the key issues players have with the game.
Players will see this as DOOM: The Dark Ages update 1.003 (complete version 1.003.000), and it’s a small download. Based from what we’ve seen this patch is only out on PS5, and there’s no acknowledgement from Bethesda if PC and Xbox Series X|S gamers will be getting it today.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Major Issues Still Persist Even After Patch 1.003
Update: Bethesda has acknowledged the patch and confirmed it is out on all platforms! Here are the official list of fixes:
- Addresses multiple crash issues around map start
- Loading late campgain save crashing issues
- Crashing brought about by charging or throwing the Shield Saw
Original Story:
Here’s the strange thing, so far, Bethesda has not made any announcements for the title update. The PC version got two small patches last week, which included the following fixes:
- Updated startup messaging.
- Fixed most instances of crashing at launch for some users.
- Added new startup messaging for NVIDIA graphics card users.
For today’s patch, the community has confirmed that this has NOT fixed the trophy bug/Berserker bug! This means that those who wish to Platinum the game, you still won’t be able to even if the Berserker challenge is marked as completed.
How to Fix the DOOM: The Dark Ages Berserk/Trophy Bug?
The known fix for this is to start a new save file and erase the previous save tied to the milestone! Yes, it’s annoying but so far, that’s the only fix known.
Aside from today’s patch, we’ve also listed the known issues affecting all platforms.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Known Issues (as of May 22, 2025):
PC
- Issue: Some users with supported hardware and drivers may experience intermittent freezes while playing the game.
- ㄴ Resolution: Make sure you have Hardware accelerated GPU scheduling enabled in Windows.
- Issue: Users running the game on supported NVIDIA hardware with the latest GPU drivers installed who experience a crash at launch may have a bad driver install. If other troubleshooting steps have failed, attempt the following resolution.
- ㄴ Resolution: Restart the PC. Reinstall the appropriate graphics drivers and select the “clean install” option from the NVIDIA driver installation prompts.
- Issue: Game crashes while OBS is running in the background.
- ㄴ Resolution: Closing OBS before launching the title will resolve this crashing.
- Issue: Users with NVIDIA 50 series GPUs on the 576.40 drivers may experience game freezes if Alt + Tabbing with FSR FrameGen enabled in fullscreen mode.
- ㄴ Resolution: To avoid this issue, either do not Alt + Tab frequently, run the game in borderless window mode or disable FSR Frame Gen.
- Issue: If you are playing on an RTX 50 series GPU and enable G-Sync (supported display required) or V-Sync plus Multi Frame Generation through NVIDIA Control Panel you can crash the game.
- ㄴ Resolution: Until a driver fix is available, the workaround for this issue is to either disable one of these options in the NVIDIA control panel or if you want both enabled, set them in-game.
- Issue: If you are playing on an RTX 40 or 50 series GPU and enable Multi Frame Generation or FrameGen, V-Sync still shows as enabled.
- ㄴ Resolution: This is a minor cosmetic issue – the game disables V-Sync under the hood in these cases.
- Issue: Users with NVIDIA GPUs may find that Alt-Tabbing while launching the game can cause the game to launch in the background and not be accessible.
- ㄴ Resolution: This is a known driver issue. Until a fix is available in a driver update, to avert this issue, avoid Alt-Tabbing during game launch. If encountered, it can be resolved by restarting your PC.
- Issue: Users with NVIDIA 50 series GPUs may experience TDRs or system hangs when starting gameplay recording using Shadowplay with MultiFrameGen set to 3x or 4x.
- ㄴ Resolution: To avoid this issue, either do not use the noted MFG settings or record gameplay with a different application.
- Issue: If capturing with OBS, game visuals may freeze when Alt-tabbing from Fullscreen
- ㄴ Resolution: Until there is an update from OBS, the workaround for the issue is to capture in Windowed or Borderless mode.
- Issue: The game can lock up when manually resizing the game window with FSR FrameGen enabled.
- ㄴResolution: To avoid this issue, do not manually resize the game window with FSR FrameGen enabled.
- Issue: Users who unplug a 2nd monitor during gameplay may notice that the game has frozen.
- ㄴ Resolution: To avoid this issue, do not unplug any monitors while playing the game.
- Issue: Players running the game with the MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner overlays enabled may experience stability issues.
- ㄴ Resolution: To avoid this issue, do not run the game with either application running in the background.
- Issue: In rare cases, players running DOOM: The Dark Ages on a supported PC spec at appropriate settings, who have the latest GPU drivers installed and also have an intel CPU model number that starts with the number 13 or 14 can run into persistent crashing.
- ㄴResolution: In such cases, you may have a corrupted CPU. Please contact intel Customer Support at https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/contact.html
General Gameplay
- Issue (Added: 5/13): Users with certain display configurations may hear game audio when launching the title but the game window is invisible.
- ㄴ Resolution: Steam users can manually configure launch options to enable a valid display resolution by right-clicking on the title in the Steam library, selecting Properties, and entering the following text in the “Launch Options” section of the Properties menu: +r_mode -1 +r_fullscreen 0.
- Issue: FOV changes do not carry over into Cinematics or interactive events, such as shield bashing through walls.
- ㄴ Resolution: This is by design but we are evaluating a possible change to make FOV changes global in a post-launch update.
- Issue: Changes on the FOV slider after Cinematics or Wall Shield Bashes may not affect display.
- ㄴ Resolution: This is a temporary issue that will reset when changing levels, loading checkpoints, or returning to the Main Menu.
- Issue: In rare cases, the Vagary in Ancestral Forge may disappear and block access to the collectible item placed at the wolf statue.
- ㄴ Resolution: If you encounter this issue, the workaround is to reload the checkpoint.
- Issue: The “Barrel Stuffer” and “Super Barrel Stuffer” Mastery challenges may not appear to increment when expected.
- ㄴ Resolution: Per the challenge descriptions, every pellet must hit demons, and this can be difficult if the demon is too small or dies before all pellets hit. Try on Heavy and Super-Heavy Demons for more consistent progress.
- Issue: You may maneuver the Slayer onto geometry or objects outside of intended, navigable space, and then become stuck.
- ㄴ Resolution: If this occurs, and the object is not destructible, the workaround is to reload the checkpoint.
- Issue: In Siege – Part 1, the combat encounter in front of a cave to one of the Hell Portals in the swamp side of the map may not spawn under very specific conditions, blocking the player from continuing.
- ㄴ Resolution: The current work around is to Reload the Checkpoint, which resolves the issue. Rare reports where this has occurred involve saving this Hell Portal for last, so approaching this encounter earlier may also avoid the issue.
- Issue: If you defeat a demon with a Melee attack while the Shield Saw is still embedded, the Shield may appear invisible in the hands for some time.
- ㄴ Resolution: The Shield Saw will reappear after multiple uses.
- Issue: Some users may find that an additional button press is required to input actions when first opening the Dossier.
- ㄴ Resolution: We are investigating a fix for a future patch. In the meantime, if you experience this issue, press your first input twice as a workaround.
- Issue: Some users may find that the amount of Gold in their inventory doesn’t change after purchasing an upgrade.
- ㄴ Resolution: We are investigating a fix for a future patch. In the meantime, please be aware that this issue is purely cosmetic and that the Gold in your inventory will update after backing out of the Sentinel Shrine UI.
- Issue: In some cases, users may experience icons not appearing correctly after button actions have been remapped.
- ㄴ Resolution: Remapped buttons will appear correctly after backing out of and re-entering the Inputs menu.
We’ve reached out to Bethesda to seek what fixes have been made with today’s patch, and if we get a reply, we’ll update the article ith the info.
Aside from the issues, DOOM: The Dark Ages is one insane ride. Read our in-depth review to see why it’s in the running for Game of the Year.
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