Soul Cube/Doom (2016)

The Soul Cube appears as a background object in both games set in the Doom 2016 timeline (see Doom 4 timeline and shared timeline).

Doom (2016)
The Soul Cube was designated as "Artifact U1" by the UAC, and referred as the Praeleanthor. It orignally was a weapon used by the great Hero from legend. Likewise the UAC designated the statue of the Doom Slayer's armor as Artifact U9, and the Slayer's suit is called the Praetor. Both having been discovered in the same archaelogical site Site 3, and is among several important artifacts found there all designated the U-series Artifacts.Their names share a common connection and theme.

The Soul Cube is present on a desk in Olivia Pierce's private office in the level Lazarus Labs. It is an area  located with a number of dig site artifacts, none of which can be interacted with. But similar to artifacts seen at the Dig Site in Doom 3.

Olivia's character bio talks about how she was sent an object while at NanoStruct that was found near the Argent Fracture, after which she became obssessed with joining the UAC. This may be a reference to Soul Cube, or any number of smaller artifacts found near her office.

The cube is furthermore depicted in a carving which can be found in Argent D'Nur, where the same scene found on the ancient Martian tablets in Doom 3 is pictured, albeit with some details depicted differently. The Doom Slayer is depicted using the Praeleanthor on surrounding demons.

This seems to indicate that inhabitants of the area who made this carving—be it the citizens of Argent D'Nur before its fall, or the demons of Hell afterward—were aware of the ancient Martian hero's battle. This may even be meant to imply that the ancient Martian Hero is in fact the same person as the Doom Slayer (but the game does not give enough information to establish this as fact). Ruins found on the surface of Mars in the Hellas Planitia region where the UAC Mars Base was built may also point to a connection (as being location of Site 3 where U-series Artifacts were discovered).

The carving has ancient runic symbols explaining the image of the Hero, and the Soul Cube he carries into battle (though this is indecipherable to the Slayer).

The Soul Cube is hanging out on a desk in Olivia Pierce’s office but alas, this particular one appears nonfunctional.

Doom Eternal
The Soul Cube is found on the Slayer's main computer desk inside the Fortress of Doom in Doom Eternal. This is likely more of a nod to the fact that his counterpart in Doom 3 had the Soul Cube in his possession at the end of Doom 3 (& Doom RPG), and its now it's one of his 'souvenirs' he keeps in his room, memorabilia of past campaigns and battles. Evidently having been seized from the Lazarus Labs by the Doom Slayer.

Behind the scenes


It cannot be picked up or used, and there is no storyline information associated with its presence, however, there are references to it within the environment of the game in other parts.