Bethesda Softworks said on Tuesday that Doom 3 BFG Edition is currently slated for release in North America on October 16, 2012, then in Europe on October 19, 2012.
As previously reported, the bundle will include Doom 3, the Resurrection of Evil add-on pack, and seven new levels of content entitled "The Lost Mission." The two games will be remastered for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, offering "enhanced visuals" to further immerse players into id Software's demonic world.
"Doom 3, Resurrection of Evil, and 'The Lost Mission' have been optimized in 3D, featuring 5.1 surround sound, Xbox 360 Achievements, PlayStation 3 trophies, improved rendering and lighting, and a new check point save system allowing for smoother progression through the game," Bethesda said in an email. "id Software has fine-tuned the controls to bring the intensity of the Doom single and multiplayer experience to the consoles, and Doom 3 now features the new armor-mounted flashlight, allowing players to illuminate dark corners and blast enemies at the same time."
Doom 3 originally shipped for the PC and Microsoft's first Xbox console back in 2005. That said, the "enhancements" in the BFG Edition were only needed for the newer, more powerful Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, bringing the shooter up to today's console standards. Because the PC version was always superior, id Software decided to take the opportunity and do something special for gamers dedicated to the platform: adding support for a customized Head-Mounted Display (HMD).
As reported during E3 2012, id Software Technical Director John Carmack demoed the gadget, a side project he started after completing Rage. The headset is slated to be sold in limited quantities for around $500. However, technical difficulties prevent the headset's resolution from matching current HD graphics, yet movement is reportedly so fluid, it's life-like. Carmack is hoping to have a large number of kits thrown together by the time QuakeCon 2012 launches in August.
"I actually think is better than anybody has done in terms of VR demos," he told USA Today. "Over the last few weeks of playing with this I have probably had some of the more stick-with-me moments in a game that I have had over the last two decades. Projected into there and having the subtle little bits about looking around and having things come out at you, it is a different experience."
Doom 3 BFG Edition will be available in North America on PC for $29.99 and on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for $39.99. So far there's no set date for the HMD version of Doom 3 BFG Edition for the PC, so stay tuned.
