30 years after it ‘ruined id Software,’ Quake gets another big update while the studio once again grapples with adversity
Quake has received a major update more than 30 years after its 1996 release, adding new content and restoring material from its development. The release highlights the game’s continued significance while id Software faces renewed uncertainty following Microsoft-imposed layoffs connected to changes in Xbox’s business.
MachineGames’ update, Dawn of the Machine, adds 19 levels, new weapon variants including the Super Axe and Laser Cannon, and a gallery of archival development material with unfinished playable levels. It was announced at QuakeCon, where co-founder John Romero noted that the date also marked 30 years since he left id; several prominent developers departed after Quake’s production, which former designer Sandy Petersen has said “ruined” the studio.
In short
- Quake receives 19 new levels and restored development material.
- The update marks more than 30 years since Quake’s release.
- id Software faces fresh pressure after Microsoft-related layoffs.
Explained simply
Quake is a first-person shooter released in 1996 by id Software, the studio behind games such as Doom. Players move through three-dimensional environments and fight enemies with weapons. The game helped shape the modern first-person shooter and remains influential decades after its release.
id Software’s founders and developers included John Romero, who left the studio in 1996, and designer Sandy Petersen. Several prominent staff members departed around the time Quake was made; Petersen later described the production as having “ruined” the studio, reflecting the strain associated with its development.
Quake is now part of Microsoft’s Xbox portfolio, and MachineGames, another Microsoft-owned studio, made the new content. The update arrives as id Software faces uncertainty after Microsoft layoffs linked to changes in Xbox’s business, putting the game’s long life alongside questions about the studio’s future.