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Surprise! The original Quake gets a free expansion on all platforms to celebrate its 30th birthday
id Software has released Quake: Dawn of the Machine, a free new expansion for the original Quake, marking the game’s 30th anniversary. Available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, it gives the classic shooter a substantial new campaign while demonstrating how modern level design can extend its original style.
Developed with MachineGames, the expansion contains a 19-map looping campaign, a new soundtrack and one deathmatch map. Players use runes to alter routes, encounters and secrets, while persistent health and ammunition upgrades carry between loops; it also adds changed enemy behaviours and weapon variants such as the Super Axe and Laser Cannon. The release arrives as id Software faces uncertainty following major restructuring affecting Xbox studios.
In short
- Quake receives a free 19-map expansion for its 30th anniversary.
- Dawn of the Machine adds looping, roguelike-inspired campaign mechanics.
- The release comes amid uncertainty over id Software’s future.
Explained simply
Quake is a first-person shooter released in 1996 by id Software, a game studio known for influential action games. Players explore maze-like levels, fight monsters and search for exits, often using a range of weapons.
The new campaign was made with MachineGames, another game studio, and builds on Quake’s original approach to fast combat and exploration. Its release marks three decades since the game first appeared, while id Software is also facing changes linked to restructuring across Xbox’s studios.