New official 30th anniversary Quake mission pack adds fresh maps and mechanics
A new free campaign called Dawn of the Machine has been added to the remastered version of classic shooter Quake, introducing a time-loop structure and persistent upgrades. The release comes even as Microsoft's Xbox division has seen significant layoffs affecting original developer id Software.
To mark Quake's 30th anniversary, a new official mission pack titled "Dawn of the Machine" has been released for the classic shooter. The new campaign places players in a labyrinthine, looping dimension where each visit to the present reshapes what comes next. Playing as the battle-hardened Ranger, players collect runes to unlock previously sealed paths, revealing new routes, encounters, and secrets along the way. The pack also introduces persistent health and ammunition upgrades, adding a new layer of progression on top of Quake's classic gameplay.
Availability
The new maps have been added to the campaign list within the remastered version of Quake. As with that remaster itself, the mission pack is available free to anyone who already owns Quake on Steam, as well as on current and last-generation PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles.
Industry backdrop
The release arrives amid reports that a significant number of employees at original Quake developer id Software were recently laid off as part of a broad reorganization within Microsoft's Xbox division. However, most of that studio has reportedly been focused on the recent Doom reboot series rather than Quake. The new Quake content has primarily come from MachineGames, a studio that does not appear to have been as heavily affected by the layoffs so far, though further cuts are expected across the Xbox organization in the coming months.
Despite that difficult backdrop, Quake has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years, similar to Age of Empires II, thanks to its remaster and a steadier stream of official new content.
