The recently concluded QuakeCon was a big one, marking the 30th anniversary of the game that started it all and, more notably, bringing id Software co-founders Adrian Carmack, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and John Romero together for the first time in a very long time... Read more.
The recently concluded QuakeCon was a big one, marking the 30th anniversary of the game that started it all and, more notably, bringing id Software co-founders Adrian Carmack, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and John Romero together for the first time in a very long time... Read more.
very Quake-themed QuakeCon kicked off today, with John Romero and current id studio co-director Marty Stratton speaking on a panel celebrating the shooter's 30th anniversary. A new 19-level Quake episode was announced and released during the panel, which also featured a brief liv
very Quake-themed QuakeCon kicked off today, with John Romero and current id studio co-director Marty Stratton speaking on a panel celebrating the shooter's 30th anniversary. A new 19-level Quake episode was announced and released during the panel, which also featured a brief livestreamed appearance from Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor... Read more.
Just a smidge over 30 years after its original release date, Quake just got a big update. MachineGames has added a new chapter to id Software's landmark 1996 successor to the Doom games, dubbed Dawn of the Machine... Read more.
Just a smidge over 30 years after its original release date, Quake just got a big update. MachineGames has added a new chapter to id Software's landmark 1996 successor to the Doom games, dubbed Dawn of the Machine... Read more.
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Quake, we have collaborated with MachineGames to create a new episode, Dawn of the Machine , now available as a free update to Quake. 🆕WHAT'S NEW ⚙️DAWN OF THE MACHINE Celebrating 30 years of Quake, the award-winning team at MachineGames—in c
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Quake, we have collaborated with MachineGames to create a new episode, Dawn of the Machine, now available as a free update to Quake.
Celebrating 30 years of Quake, the award-winning team at MachineGames—in collaboration with id Software—returns with Dawn of the Machine, a brutal new episode building on their critically acclaimed work on Dimension of the Machine and Dimensions of the Past. Delivering ferocious combat, labyrinthine level design, and nightmarish realms that twist reality beyond recognition, it pushes the legacy of the genre-defining first-person shooter even further—honoring one of gaming’s most enduring icons.
🏃♂️➡️END THE NIGHTMARE. 😶🌫️ESCAPE THE ILLUSION.
Ranger is trapped in a dimension of endless illusion—reliving the same violent cycles for what feels like lifetimes, dying thousands of times in a futile attempt to escape. Wearied but unbroken, he has heard rumor of The Nightmare Machine.
Beyond the hordes of monsters—twisted by an eternity in the Elder realms—lies the Machine. It is believed its destruction will shatter the illusion, finally breaking the loop.
🆓FREE FOR QUAKE OWNERS
Dawn of the Machine is available as a free update for Quake owners on XBOX Series X/S, XBOX One, Microsoft PC Store, Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2 (via backwards compatibility), and Nintendo Switch versions of Quake. This expansive new episode features 19 all-new maps across a cohesive campaign, alongside a brand-new soundtrack, hidden secrets, a dedicated episode hub, and an all-new deathmatch map.
👹NEW ENEMY AND ⚔️WEAPON VARIANTS
Face deadly new twists on familiar foes, including the Rocket Ogre, Demo Dog, Blood Shambler, and more. Each variant introduces lethal new behaviours—from overwhelming firepower to explosive death traps—forcing you to rethink every encounter. Expand your arsenal with brutal variants inspired by classic Quake expansions, including the Super Axe—unleashing lightning on successive strikes—and the Laser Cannon, firing ricocheting projectiles that tear through enemies from every angle.
♻️REPLAYABLE EPISODE LOOP
Time folds back on itself in a unique looping structure, where each return reshapes the experience. Runes unlock previously sealed paths, drawing you back through familiar spaces now altered with new routes, encounters, and secrets waiting to be discovered. Persistent health and ammo upgrades found throughout the realm ensure each loop makes you stronger, introducing a new layer of progression to Quake.
🎭EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Reality is never stable. Shift between dimensions to solve puzzles and navigate the world, or find hidden secrets scattered throughout the realms. Face enemies that rise again or transform after death, and experience encounters where the rules change without warning—forcing you to adapt or be overrun.
🔒id VAULT
Browse a behind-the-scenes gallery of development assets and unused content. Explore playable maps, including some levels from the earliest stages of Quake’s development
🏆NEW ACHEIVEMENTS
Three new achievements are available to earn while playing Dawn of the Machine
🤫CHEATS MENU
Access the new Cheats menu at any time in single player games to help you through a tough area or just explore levels without fear of enemies
🛠️FIXES
Improved interpolation. This reduces input latency and lessens occurrences where the camera would visually fall behind your weapon and weapon effects
Fixed an issue where the camera would interpolate between position changes that were too large to possibly be stairs (silent teleporters)
Re-added weapon bobbing effects when view bobbing is disabled
Weapon bob can now be turned on or off separately from view bob
Removed shadow casting from Hell Knight projectiles to improve visuals in its ranged attack
Shadow casting lights from enemies are now capped to improve performance in scenes with lots of Enforcers firing weapons
Reduced memory usage from menus
Improved font rendering when using the larger accessible typeface
👷MODDING CHANGES
Localization strings are now stored in the Quake PAK, instead of outside the game data in the KPF file. Third party engines that previously read strings from the KPF file will need to be updated to read from the PAK file and should no longer need to load the KPF file at all
Mods can optionally add new mod-specific localization by overriding localization/loc_(language)_mod.txt in their PAK files
❓FAQs
I already own Quake. How do I access the new episode, Dawn of the Machine?
If you already own Quake, you’ll receive the new update automatically as a free download. Depending on your settings, the update may already be installed. Once updated, you can start a new game, select a level, or play cooperative multiplayer in Dawn of the Machine
Which platforms is Dawn of the Machine available in Quake?
Dawn of the Machine is currently available on XBOX Series X/S, XBOX One, Microsoft PC Store, Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Steam, Nintendo Switch 2 (via backwards compatibility), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions of Quake
Is Dawn of the Machine available on the Epic Games Store or GOG versions of Quake?
Dawn of the Machine is currently not available on the Epic Games Store or GOG versions of Quake
I play Quake on GOG or the Epic Games Store. Why do I see a “Disconnected from servers” message when invited to play Dawn of the Machine maps with players on Steam or console?
If you’re playing Quake on GOG or the Epic Games Store, you may see a “Disconnected from servers” message when accepting an invitation from a Steam or console player for Dawn of the Machine episode or maps. This message appears because the Dawn of the Machine update is currently available on supported platforms, while the GOG and Epic Games Store versions do not yet include this content. Your account has not been disconnected or penalized
If you're still experiencing issues, please holler at our amazing Customer Service team
Xbox aren't closing or selling off Doom developers id Software as part of their latest business teardown , but they are reportedly laying off around half the studio, with swinging cuts aimed at id's legendary technology team in particular. Even as out-going staff fulminate about
Xbox aren't closing or selling off Doom developers id Software as part of their latest business teardown, but they are reportedly laying off around half the studio, with swinging cuts aimed at id's legendary technology team in particular. Even as out-going staff fulminate about the situation, studio co-founder John Romero has urged all concerned to preserve "code, assets, stories" and other historical artefacts that risk being wiped away during the restructure.
The 30th anniversary of Quake recently passed by—June 22, 2026 was the day—and of course there were acknowledgements, salutes, and celebrations a-plenty, as you'd expect for such a groundbreaking, influential, and enduring game. But it also got a couple of the driving forces behi
The 30th anniversary of Quake recently passed by—June 22, 2026 was the day—and of course there were acknowledgements, salutes, and celebrations a-plenty, as you'd expect for such a groundbreaking, influential, and enduring game. But it also got a couple of the driving forces behind it reflecting on those days rather more deeply, and as sometimes happens when youthful memories come to the surface, they got pretty deep into their feelings... Read more.
A new Quake trademark filing has been spotted out in the wild, with ZeniMax Media retying down the iconic five-letter word mark for another decade or so. Doom has recently been en vogue, but, let's be real here, has it ever not been? Nonetheless, thanks to id Software's rebooted
A new Quake trademark filing has been spotted out in the wild, with ZeniMax Media retying down the iconic five-letter word mark for another decade or so. Doom has recently been en vogue, but, let's be real here, has it ever not been? Nonetheless, thanks to id Software's rebooted series, the Slayer's escapades have jetted to new heights. This latest documentation could very well indicate that id's pioneering 3D shooter could be in line for similar treatment, but for now I'm not convinced.
t some point, fan retoolings of classic games are just whole new games in their own right. In 1996, Quake released with 32 levels and 6 deathmatch maps. Today, Quake Brutalist Jam 3 released with a ludicrous 77 maps tributing both id's classic shooter and brutalism, an architectu
t some point, fan retoolings of classic games are just whole new games in their own right. In 1996, Quake released with 32 levels and 6 deathmatch maps. Today, Quake Brutalist Jam 3 released with a ludicrous 77 maps tributing both id's classic shooter and brutalism, an architectural style defined by moody harshness and concrete... Read more.
For the last four years, the hottest mapping event in the retro FPS scene has been the Quake Brutalist Jam. Here, mapmakers enthralled by id Software's 1996 shooter have gathered to honour architecture's moodiest style, constructing levels designed to evoke its austere, concrete
For the last four years, the hottest mapping event in the retro FPS scene has been the Quake Brutalist Jam. Here, mapmakers enthralled by id Software's 1996 shooter have gathered to honour architecture's moodiest style, constructing levels designed to evoke its austere, concrete minimalism... Read more.
I thought my first-gen 3dfx Voodoo card was amazing when it came out, with its smooth action in GLQuake at 640 x 480, but this new hot rod shows just how much untapped potential was available in this early 3D graphics card tech. It adds an extra texture mapping unit to the card,
I thought my first-gen 3dfx Voodoo card was amazing when it came out, with its smooth action in GLQuake at 640 x 480, but this new hot rod shows just how much untapped potential was available in this early 3D graphics card tech. It adds an extra texture mapping unit to the card, while tripling the memory from 4MB to 12MB, resulting in a huge increase in frame rates - I only wish I'd had this card back in 1997.
While these early 3D cards are now retro tech curiosities, with a tiny amount of rendering power compared to the best GPU designs of today, there's a thriving hobbyist community dedicated to getting the most out of them. We've seen a homemade 64MB 3dfx Voodoo4 4500 card, giving it twice as much memory as the original version, for example, and I also particularly loved Anthony Zxclxiv's recreated 3dfx Voodoo5 6000, providing access to the company's massive swansong graphics card that never quite made it to market.
A Quake modding group have just polished off a game jam in which they challenged themselves to recreate every singleplayer map in id Software's 1996 FPS from memory alone. That is, they were forbidden from replaying the original game before they started. As Slipseer user iLike80s
A Quake modding group have just polished off a game jam in which they challenged themselves to recreate every singleplayer map in id Software's 1996 FPS from memory alone. That is, they were forbidden from replaying the original game before they started. As Slipseer user iLike80sRock puts it, "if somehow id1 was wiped off of all computers in the world, do we collectively remember the maps well enough to recreate them?"
Last month saw Quake inducted into the World Videogame Hall of Fame, and it's about time: as PCG's Andy Chalk observed "you've had Halo in there since 2017, and not Quake? What? What are we even doing here?" That's Quake fans for you... Read more.
Last month saw Quake inducted into the World Videogame Hall of Fame, and it's about time: as PCG's Andy Chalk observed "you've had Halo in there since 2017, and not Quake? What? What are we even doing here?" That's Quake fans for you... Read more.
My first thought upon learning that Quake had been inducted into the World Videogame Hall of Fame was that it was very weird Quake wasn't already in the World Videogame Hall of Fame. I mean, you've had Halo in there since 2017, and not Quake? What? What are we even doing here? It
My first thought upon learning that Quake had been inducted into the World Videogame Hall of Fame was that it was very weird Quake wasn't already in the World Videogame Hall of Fame. I mean, you've had Halo in there since 2017, and not Quake? What? What are we even doing here? It's the sort of thing that has the potential to start fistfights in sketchy sports bars—or heated arguments on social media, at least. But never mind, it's all water under the bridge now, as Quake was one of four HoF inductees for 2025... Read more.
Quake Champions was meant to be the game to revive the classic arena shooter. The pitch was old-school bunny-hopping and rocket-jumping arena deathmatching with just a little bit of Hero Shooter spice. Unfortunately, while it has a small but dedicated following, it never quite ca
Quake Champions was meant to be the game to revive the classic arena shooter. The pitch was old-school bunny-hopping and rocket-jumping arena deathmatching with just a little bit of Hero Shooter spice. Unfortunately, while it has a small but dedicated following, it never quite caught on as much as it could have... Read more.
First-person shooters are one of the genres that's come to define gaming on PC. Between the rip-roaring action of a good gunfight, social interactions of an MMO, or the long-term decision-making of a strategy game, playing on our computers has been characterized by some key exper
First-person shooters are one of the genres that's come to define gaming on PC. Between the rip-roaring action of a good gunfight, social interactions of an MMO, or the long-term decision-making of a strategy game, playing on our computers has been characterized by some key experiences. Prey, Titanfall 2, and Doom Eternal always come to my mind when I think of FPS games, as they're easily some of the best. If you want more shooters, then, this new Fanatical Bundle encourages you to choose only what you want, and you can grab each game for less than $2.
"Run through the Quake campaign as Doomguy," reads the Duake description . "Simple as that!" Well there's a little more to it, but sometimes a mod just speaks for itself. In fact, given the long history of mods for both games, I'm surprised this wasn't made sooner... Read more.
"Run through the Quake campaign as Doomguy," reads the Duake description. "Simple as that!" Well there's a little more to it, but sometimes a mod just speaks for itself. In fact, given the long history of mods for both games, I'm surprised this wasn't made sooner... Read more.
Between Resident Evil, GTA, Half-Life, Doom, and all the other games ripe for speedrunning, when it comes to new records, they often involve the discovery of a hidden glitch, or a super-complex exploit, that transforms the entire route. But this time we have something very differ
Between Resident Evil, GTA, Half-Life, Doom, and all the other games ripe for speedrunning, when it comes to new records, they often involve the discovery of a hidden glitch, or a super-complex exploit, that transforms the entire route. But this time we have something very different. More than 25 years since it was first set, the oldest speedrunning record for id Software's epochal FPS game Quake has just been beaten, cementing a new best time that until now was believed impossible. And the secret? There is no secret. Quake's hardest record has been defeated using sheer skill and determination.
Bethesda is a game developer and publisher that's grown considerably over the years, so when it runs a QuakeCon sale like the one currently on the go, it's something to pay attention to. Not only is it cutting the prices of its own, Bethesda-developed games like Fallout 4, Skyrim
Bethesda is a game developer and publisher that's grown considerably over the years, so when it runs a QuakeCon sale like the one currently on the go, it's something to pay attention to. Not only is it cutting the prices of its own, Bethesda-developed games like Fallout 4, Skyrim, and other Elder Scrolls titles, but the likes of Doom, Wolfenstein, and Dishonored are all included too with plenty more to pick from. With up to 85% off, it's a great time to fill in the gaps in your Steam library and grab some cheaper, brilliant games.
Exploring eldritch hell-dungeons is par for the course in Quake, but this is the first time the dungeon itself has said "I want to feel you inside me. " Just how far will Quake's hero go on a first date? Welcome to The Immortal Lock , likely the largest, fleshiest Quake map ever
Exploring eldritch hell-dungeons is par for the course in Quake, but this is the first time the dungeon itself has said "I want to feel you inside me." Just how far will Quake's hero go on a first date? Welcome to The Immortal Lock, likely the largest, fleshiest Quake map ever made, and essentially a whole action-horror game in a single contiguous space. Over a year and a half in the making, it's a harrowing 3-5 hour experience, potentially much longer depending on how much secret meat you want to strip from its bones and how frequently you die... Read more.
