Topic: Doom Eternal for Switch is canceled

GameStop apparently calling customers and saying that Doom Eternal for Switch is canceled.

Just got my call about this from GS.

Stinks if true.

@SwitchForce Probably just the physical version that's cancelled. To be honest since Control and Hitman 3 were announced I've had a feeling DOOM Eternal is a cloud version.

If there's any truth to this, I'd guess its that Doom Eternal's physical version specifically is cancelled, and all their plans for the physical version to do well have been ruined by...everything.

I also have doubts about the Cloud version, because there's been nothing to suggest Doom Eternal would be more difficult to port than the previous one. The only way I see them going with that is that if Panic Button had difficulty working this year, and the delays were somehow unacceptable to Bethesda. Which is not impossible, but would not be the best look for Bethesda.

Like I realize Cloud Control actually ran well for some people, but if Doom Eternal pulls that, objectively it won't run well for a bunch of people that it would have if it was an actual port job ala Doom 2016. Which is a risk for sales, but more importantly, would just suck for people who loved Doom on Switch but DARED TO...live in a part of the country/world where internet isn't actually that amazing.

Bethesda made a couple of posts to Twitter, to the effect that it's not canceled, and if it is they'll be the ones to say so.

GameStop presumably just canceled their preorders in light of the uncertainty, and some people misinterpreted this as Bethesda canceling the game.

That's not to say that it won't get canceled at some point in the future, but I'd think we all know that's a possibility until a firm release date is announced. Essentially, nothing has changed.

That was quick. They've canceled the physical release. A download only release is 'imminent' however.

There's no mention of cloud anywhere though, so it's presumably still a native port.

Dang seriously? I was actually holding out on buying it because I wanted to play it on switch...damn

And there we go.

I am sad because I like consistency, and owning both of the modern Doom games on a cartridge would've been nice stares at 3DS Ace Attorney games . But it is...what it is I guess.

Apparently they'll have actual info soon at least. Finally.

I dislike the path gaming industry is headed - all-digital consoles are really not my type and I believe many of folk still prefer getting physical copies rather than digital. Digital is great for indie devs, I assume it's cheaper for them to release just in that format... But man AAA studios going all digital, shame.

Maybe someone like Limited Run Games could yet come to the rescue on this one?

Besides, let's face it. Any cartridge release from Bethesda these days is probably going to come with a huge download required before you can play it.

Yeah, was going to say this.

Hopefully news comes soon!

@theWildLink If this was still a physical release it probably would've required a massive download anyway just for it to be playable with all the content installed. Might as well go all digital at that point

This isn't really an indicator of where the industry is headed. Eternal in of itself is a highly detailed and graphically demanding game that isn't nearly as scaleable compared to 2016 DOOM on id Tech 6

This was probably the only way this was going to happen if it was to come to Switch

Really interested to see how this ends up performing, considering it's a fair bit more demanding than DOOM 2016, and the Switch version of that was on the bare edge of what I'd consider acceptable performance-wise.

My bet is still on it being a game that only really runs well on Switch Pro. I could see it being a Hyrule Warriors situation where the base hardware can barely run the game.

Anyway, even with lower-res textures and whatnot, file sizes for AAA ports are still going to be huge, so digital-only should be the expectation going forward. TW3 being all on the cartridge was a nice change of pace, but not every company is willing to invest in expensive cartridges and the degree of optimization Saber Interactive ultimately went for.

@TheFrenchiestFry I hope so, but still - they could've then make physical box with a download code so I can have at least something on my shelf.

What I really don't get is in interviews I'd said that the new engine was built with Switch as the baseline from the start.

So how did Eternal get so far away from them that it's now an issue?

@Haruki_NLI id tech 7 is considerably more power hungry and CPU intensive than the last iteration. The volumetric lighting effects and increased FoV features in addition to all the new systems Eternal has in place like the details on the various weapons and the destructible demons coupled with the physics system for that in of itself makes the engine considerably harder to optimize for every platform compared to id Tech 6

Even the recommended specs this time around on PC are like a GTX 1060 and for Nightmare difficulty you basically require an RTX card at that point. It makes Wolfenstein II look like child's play in comparison. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Switch port is extremely unstable at launch if DOOM 2016 was any indication

I'd suspect that the Switch version being the baseline went out the window when the game got delayed. Having presumably spent those extra six months or so building the game to a much higher spec would have left a lot more work unpicking it all and downgrading everything to the point where it runs on the Switch again.

We're in a strange world where Doom 64 gets a physical release and Doom Eternal doesn't though.

I feel bad for the poor souls that pre ordered the switch version.

AFAIK Physical is gone and only Digital but most that bought PreOrder was waiting for the Physical not Digital version.