Quake Dawn of the Machine is now available as a free update for existing owners, adding a new episode to id Software’s 1996 shooter for its 30th anniversary. id Software announced the release on August 6 and said MachineGames made the episode in collaboration with the studio. Bethesda published the update.
The release is an episode, not a separately sold mission pack. It adds 19 new maps in one campaign, plus a dedicated hub, hidden secrets, a new soundtrack and a new deathmatch map, according to id Software’s announcement.
How does Quake Dawn of the Machine’s looping campaign work?
The campaign sends Ranger through repeating cycles in which revisiting areas changes them. Runes open paths that were previously blocked, exposing additional routes, encounters and secrets. Health and ammunition upgrades remain in place between loops, so progress carries forward even as the spaces change.
That is the key mechanical addition confirmed by id Software: the episode asks players to return to familiar locations after unlocking more of them, rather than treating each visit as a reset. The official description also says players will move between dimensions for navigation and puzzles. Some enemies can reappear or change after death.
New enemies, weapons and update features
MachineGames has added variants of established foes, including the Rocket Ogre, Demo Dog and Blood Shambler. The weapon additions include the Super Axe, which gains lightning on successive strikes, and the Laser Cannon, whose shots ricochet.
The broader anniversary update also includes three achievements and a cheats menu for single-player sessions. Among the platform-wide technical changes, id Software lists improved interpolation, intended to reduce input latency and lessen occasions when the camera appears visually out of step with weapon effects.
Who gets the Quake anniversary update?
According to id Software, Dawn of the Machine is included for owners of Quake on the following versions:
- Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One
- Microsoft PC Store, Game Pass, PC Game Pass and Steam
- PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4
- Nintendo Switch, plus Nintendo Switch 2 through backward compatibility
Ars Technica also reports that the maps have been placed on the remastered game’s campaign list. For players with that version already installed, the practical result is a fresh campaign with persistent upgrades, newly unlocked routes and combat additions, delivered through the existing game update rather than a new purchase.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.
