In a shock move, Bethesda has announced a new add-on for DOOM and DOOM II!
Developed by modder James Paddock using Ultimate Doom Builder and SLADE, the new maps are based on modding work he did in his own time in the early 2000s.
Earthless: Prelude is the latest in the growing lineup of free Add-ons for our re-releases of DOOM & DOOM II available now. https://t.co/3rhn9OBSUe pic.twitter.com/YjMUjStMxU
— Bethesda (@bethesda) July 22, 2021
Chatting to the Bethesda Slayer’s Club, Paddock explained “The project began to take form in my mind when I started looking through a bunch of old maps dating from the mid-2000s, when I was just starting to learn how to map as a teenager. I did some digging through various other old projects and eventually was able to drum up a list of 32 maps for DOOM II. I knew it – I had basically a megawad’s worth of content going unused or unseen! Admittedly not much of it was, uh, good, but nothing a quick remake with my current skillset couldn’t solve.”
Earthless follows a previous free add-on from 2020, Deathless, and features 32 new levels, 12 maps, and original music.
DOOM and DOOM II are available on most platforms these days, from Nintendo Switch and Xbox One to Raspberry Pi. As such, despite these games being almost 30 years old, the opportunity to play new maps.
You can grab the “Earthless” mod from the Doomworld forum.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
