Review: Quake’s 30th Anniversary “Dawn of the Machine” Episode Is an Ambitious Celebration of the Game’s History

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of id Software’s landmark 1996 first-person shooter Quake, developer MachineGames has released a free new episode titled “Dawn of the Machine” for the 2021 remaster. The substantial update, announced at QuakeCon, includes 19 all-new campaign levels alongside new multiplayer deathmatch maps, a new soundtrack, and expanded weapon arsenal.

Players will experience Ranger trapped in a time loop navigating a dimension of endless illusion, solving puzzles and battling new enemy types while wielding new weapons including the Super Axe—which unleashes lightning on successive strikes—and a Laser Cannon that fires ricocheting projectiles. The update is available immediately across all platforms where the 2021 remaster is available, including PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series consoles, and Nintendo Switch with backwards compatibility on Switch 2.

MachineGames, known for its work on the rebooted Wolfenstein series and 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, brings its action-oriented expertise to extend Quake’s legacy. The campaign is designed with high replayability in mind, with the time loop narrative structure enabling players to approach missions flexibly. While no new mainline Quake game was announced for the franchise’s 30th anniversary, this free episode represents a significant commitment to the classic FPS, celebrating the enduring passion of Quake’s community and the game’s profound influence on the industry.

Review: Quake’s 30th Anniversary “Dawn of the Machine” Episode Is an Ambitious Celebration of the Game’s History

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