Quake Just Got a Major Update 30 Years Post-Launch, and You Can Play It Right Now
Quake has received a substantial free update to mark the shooter's 30th anniversary, adding an entirely new episode called Dawn of the Machine despite no new game being announced at this year's QuakeCon. The episode was created by MachineGames, the studio behind the rebooted Wolfenstein series and 2023's Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which previously collaborated with id Software and Nightdive Studios on earlier episodes for Quake's 2021 remaster. The release arrives amid uncertainty over the future of id Software and MachineGames following Xbox's July layoffs at id Software, which came shortly after the studio shipped DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages.
Dawn of the Machine is a 19-level episode built on the original game's engine, introducing new enemy types and weapons such as the super axe and laser cannon. It is designed for repeat playthroughs, letting players collect runes to unlock new paths while retaining previously earned health and ammo upgrades. The update also adds a behind-the-scenes development vault, additional achievements, a cheats menu, and one new multiplayer deathmatch map, and is now available across all versions of the remaster, including Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
In short
- Quake gets free new episode "Dawn of the Machine" for its 30th anniversary
- Made by MachineGames; 19 levels, new weapons and enemies
- Comes amid uncertainty over id Software's future after Xbox layoffs
Explained simply
Quake is a first-person shooter released by id Software in 1996, known for fast combat and maze-like levels. Players move through dangerous environments, fighting monsters with a range of weapons. Its lasting popularity has led to updated releases that make the game available on newer consoles and computers.
MachineGames is a Swedish studio best known for its Wolfenstein games and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. It has worked with id Software, the studio that made Quake, and Nightdive Studios, which specialises in reviving older games. Their earlier collaboration added episodes to a remastered version of Quake.
The anniversary update matters because it adds new material to a game first released three decades ago, while keeping its original engine and style. It also arrives as the future of id Software and MachineGames is uncertain following job cuts at id Software by Xbox, which owns both studios.