Doom 64's upcoming port will add a brand-new post-campaign chapter
Out next week on Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC.
Doom 64's long-awaited Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC port is due to release in a little over a week, on Friday, 20th March, and ahead of the big day, word has arrived that it'll feature an entirely new, never-before-seen chapter of demon-slaying mayhem.
That's according to James Haley, senior developer at porting studio Nightdive, who, in an interview with USgamer, explained that Doom 64's upcoming conversion will feature "a new chapter in the Doomguy's saga" that can be unlocked by "persistent players".
This particular chunk of new action is said to unfold shortly after the end of Doom 64's original campaign, and pits players against [SPOILERS, I GUESS?] the sister of the slain Mother Demon, intent on ending their rampage around Hell once and for all [SPOILERS END HERE].
Those reaching the end of the new chapter will apparently be rewarded with a bit of lore "that fans of both series, new and classic, should enjoy". Will it be revealed that the events of Doom 64 are wedged, chronologically speaking, between Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal? Given my limited understanding of Doom lore, I can only shrug helplessly here.
Alongside the new story chapter, Nightdive has also confirmed a handful of other features being added to its Doom 64 ports, including the likes of motion control support and a touch-driven automap for PlayStation 4 and Switch users, mouse and keyboard support for Xbox One (and PC, obviously), new lighting options for modern displays, and the choice between red blood or the green blood seen in Doom 64's original Japanese release.
Digital Foundry's John Linneman called Doom 64 "one of the finest technological achievements for Nintendo 64" and "an essential buy for Doom fans" in his exhaustive breakdown of every previous Doom console conversion, and those wishing to revisit it - or experience it for the first time - can do so on Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC from 20th March.
It'll be available to purchase as a standalone release on all platforms, and is also being offered as a pre-order bonus for Doom Eternal, which launches on the same day. Switch players going for the latter option will, however, need to wait until Doom Eternal's later release date to play.