As some stores and rating boards revealed earlier than intended today, id Software's classic Quake is returning in a fresh way. During the QuakeCon opening segment, Bethesda, id Software, and MachineGames revealed and simultaneously launched a brand-new version of Quake that's been enhanced across the board and comes with new content.
This new version of Quake, which is just named Quake, has been updated to include widescreen resolution support going up to 4K along with updated visuals that overhaul the models and lightning, while also adding anti-aliasing, depth of field, ambient occlusion, dynamic shadows, and other elements. Have a look at the new visuals in the trailer above. The original soundtrack by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is finally returning too.
Meanwhile, MachineGames, the studio known for the Wolfenstein franchise, has lent a hand to the project and developed another expansion for Quake, something it has done in the past. So, in addition to Quake's original two expansions — The Scourge of Armagon and Dissolution of Eternity —, MachineGames' Dimension of the Past and the new Dimension of the Machine expansions will also be included with the package at no extra cost.
All of the campaigns can be played with up to four players both online and in local split-screen co-op. For those unfamiliar with the dark fantasy campaign of Quake, here's how the studio describes it:
You are Ranger, a warrior armed with a powerful arsenal of weapons. Fight corrupted knights, deformed ogres and an army of twisted creatures across four dark dimensions of infested military bases, ancient medieval castles, lava-filled dungeons and gothic cathedrals in search of the four magic runes. Only after you have collected the runes will you hold the power to defeat the ancient evil that threatens all of humanity.
As for the iconic fast-paced multiplayer experience, up to eight players can duke it out online while four players can have their own fun in split-screen. Online matchmaking with dedicated servers, as well as peer-to-peer options for custom games are available as well. Cross-play is enabled across all platforms for all modes.
Adding to all that, Quake is gaining mods and official add-ons — like Quake 64, which is available now — as free packages that are available to download and play from in-game. More curated mods and missions are coming later as well.
Here are the minimum PC system requirements to play the new version at 1080p 60FPS:
- Windows 10
- Intel Core i5-3570 @ 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen 3 1300x @ 3.5 GHz
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 TI (2GB) or AMD HD 7750 (1GB)
- 8GB System RAM
- Minimum 2GB free space on hard drive (additional space required for optional Add-ons)
- High speed broadband connection required for online play
The updated Quake is out now on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. While the parties involved aren't calling this a remaster, it essentially is one. A next-gen upgrade is also planned for this version, though a launch date has not been shared just yet. Note that those who already owned the original Quake on Steam or Bethesda.net are gaining the upgrade for free.
As with every new Xbox Game Studios launch, this Quake is also included in Xbox Game Pass subscriptions across PC and Xbox consoles. Game Pass Ultimate members can also join in via the cloud. As a bonus, the original Quake 2 and Quake 3 have also arrived to the PC variant of Xbox Game Pass.
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