Bethesda, publisher of the highly anticipated DOOM: The Dark Ages, and the Royal Armouries Museum at Leeds Dock —the home of the UK’s national collection of arms and armour—are joining forces to bring the war-scarred fantasy universe of DOOM to life in ‘Welcome to the Dark Ages’, an exclusive free exhibition running from Friday 9 – Friday 16 May 2025.
This unique collaboration blends medieval myth and futuristic mayhem in a never-before-seen artistic tribute to developer id’s DOOM universe, including the centrepiece of the exhibition: the Slayeux Tapestry. Inspired by the famed Bayeux Tapestry—which chronicles the Norman Conquest of England in 1066—the Slayeux Tapestry uses iconic imagery to depict the dynamic battles featured in the upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages, which is being developed by id Software.
Just as the Bayeux Tapestry immortalised historical warfare, the Slayeux Tapestry captures the action-packed saga of the DOOM Slayer, reimagining the game’s non-stop action in an art style truly befitting its medieval setting. The tapestry was meticulously designed by French illustrator Simon De Thuillières.
“This collaboration is a thrilling fusion of art, history, and video game culture,” said Steve Merrett, Northern European Marketing and Communications Director for Bethesda. “With Welcome to the Dark Ages, we wanted to give fans a chance to step into the world of DOOM: The Dark Ages and see how deeply it draws from real-world medieval history. With the Slayeux Tapestry sitting alongside the incredible collection of historic arms and armour, there’s no better place to bring the Slayer’s brutal history to life than the Royal Armouries.”
Opening the event will be Reacher star and world-renowned strongman Olivier Richters (aka “The Dutch Giant”), who will appear in full DOOM Slayer costume as seen in DOOM: The Dark Ages to unleash the exhibition on the public.
Alongside the handcrafted 11-metre tapestry chronicling the Slayer’s legendary crusade, the week-long Welcome to the Dark Ages exhibition also features a series of stunning displays detailing the iconic weaponry from DOOM: The Dark Ages.
The exhibition will be open to the public at the Royal Armouries in Leeds for a limited time only, from 9-16 May. Admission is free, and all are welcome to experience the hellish grandeur of DOOM like never before.
For more information and to plan your visit, please go to The Royal Armouries website.
DOOM: The Dark Ages launches on Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, PC, and Battle.net from 15 May 2025. The game can be pre-ordered now, with early access available from 13 May.
This post is based on a press release issued by The Royal Armouries Museum
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