DOOM Eternal is now Xbox Series X|S Optimized, supports ray tracing on Xbox and PC

DOOM Eternal Next Gen Update Image
DOOM Eternal Next Gen Update Image (Image credit: Xbox)

Update, June 29, 2021 (1:15 p.m. CT): DOOM Eternal also supports ray tracing on PC, thanks to NVIDIA RTX

What you need to know

  • DOOM Eternal is already one of the most impressive first-person shooter experiences in modern gaming.
  • Thanks to the free Update 6 release, DOOM Eternal is now Xbox Series X|S Optimized and includes next-gen improvements.
  • On Xbox Series X|S, DOOM Eternal now supports up to 120 FPS, and can even run ray tracing on Xbox Series X.
  • DOOM Eternal's Xbox Series X|S upgrade is now available, alongside some new content for players to enjoy.

DOOM Eternal continues the revival of the classic first-person shooter franchise with newfound glory and gore, and already runs incredibly smooth on any modern gaming platform it's available on (sometimes unbelievably so). Now, DOOM Eternal is even more impressive with its Xbox Series X|S update releasing today. DOOM Eternal is officially Optimized for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and offers a wide range of performance modes for every kind of player.

DOOM Eternal's free Update 6 includes more than just Xbox Series X|S Optimizations, so here's what you need to know:

  • Xbox Series X performance modes. Xbox Series X will include three different performance modes for players to choose from, ranging from maximum visuals with realistic lighting to maximum performance with silky-smooth framerates.
    • Performance — 120 FPS at 1800p
    • Balanced — 60 FPS at 2160p (4K)
    • Quality — 60 FPS at 1800p with ray tracing enabled
  • Xbox Series S performance modes. The Xbox Series S seemingly drops ray tracing support for DOOM Eternal, but is no less impressive with its remaining two performance modes, which also either prioritize visuals and resolution or performance.
    • Performance — 120 FPS at 1080p
    • Balanced — 60 FPS at 1440p
  • Other next-gen enhancements. The Xbox Series X|S update for DOOM Eternal includes improved visuals and performance across the board, and should make load times even shorter. DOOM Eternal also now supports dynamic resolution scaling, so you never lose frames even in the heat of combat.
  • New game content. Update 6 includes something for everyone, with new game content being added in this release. DOOM Eternal adds a new Master Level to test advanced players' skills and a new Battlemode arena with Corrosion. Finally, there are other miscellaneous enhancements, quality-of-life improvements, and balancing changes.

id Software certainly knows how to take full advantage of the hardware they're using, and DOOM Eternal is now at the forefront of current-gen gaming technology with its new Xbox Series X|S update. If you missed it, DOOM Eternal recently concluded its saga with the release of The Ancient Gods Part II DLC, which adds a ton of compelling new story content. DOOM Eternal is now available for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation, and even Switch. It's also included through Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming, further increasing its reach to players.

Update 6 for DOOM Eternal is now available. With its newly acquired Xbox Series X|S enhancements, DOOM Eternal has once again confirmed its place as one of the best Xbox games you can play today.

Update, June 29, 2021 (1:15 p.m. CT) — DOOM Eternal supports NVIDIA RTX ray tracing on PC

DOOM Eternal may be Xbox Series X|S Optimized now, with ray tracing support for Xbox Series X, but that's not all that's going on today. NVIDIA has confirmed that DOOM Eternal now supports NVIDIA RTX ray tracing and NVIDIA DLSS, offering unprecedented visuals for DOOM Eternal for PC gamers with the right NVIDIA hardware. Ray tracing is supported in the campaign and expansions, while NVIDIA DLSS promises greater performance at higher resolutions.

Related: Our full DOOM Eternal Xbox One review

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Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.