Quake gets a free new chapter promising “ferocious combat, labyrinthine level design, and nightmarish realms” to celebrate its 30th birthday
Quake has received a free expansion, Dawn of the Machine, to mark the classic first-person shooter’s 30th anniversary. Developed by id Software and MachineGames, it follows Ranger’s attempt to destroy the Nightmare Machine and escape an endless cycle of violent deaths, while adding new combat encounters and levels to the 2021 enhanced edition.
The expansion contains a 19-map campaign, a new deathmatch map, an original soundtrack, altered versions of familiar enemies, and two weapons: a lightning-firing Super Axe and ricocheting Laser Cannon. It also includes archival development art, a cheat menu and modding-related localisation changes, but is currently available only through Steam and the Microsoft Store/Game Pass; GOG and Epic versions are expected to receive it later.
- Quake’s 30th anniversary expansion is free for the enhanced edition.
- Dawn of the Machine adds 19 campaign maps and new weapons.
- It is currently unavailable on GOG and Epic.
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Quake is a first-person shooter originally released in 1996 by id Software, the studio behind games such as Doom. Players navigate hostile environments and fight monsters using a range of weapons, and its fast-paced action and three-dimensional graphics helped shape later shooter games.
The player character, known as Ranger, is caught in a struggle against supernatural forces. The new campaign centres on the Nightmare Machine, which is tied to his repeated deaths, and is made by id Software with MachineGames, a studio known for its work on the Wolfenstein series.