Surprise! The original Quake gets a free expansion on all platforms to celebrate its 30th birthday

The original Quake is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a surprise: a brand new, free expansion called Quake: Dawn of the Machine. Announced at QuakeCon’s opening ceremony, the expansion is now available across major platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Developed through a collaboration between id Software and MachineGames (the studio behind recent titles like Wolfenstein and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle), Dawn of the Machine brings substantial new content to the classic FPS. The expansion features a complete 19-map campaign with new enemies, weapons, and a fresh soundtrack. Players will also gain access to a new deathmatch map for multiplayer play.

The expansion’s narrative follows Quake protagonist Ranger, who finds himself trapped in a “dimension of endless illusion,” forced to relive violent cycles repeatedly in an attempt to escape. Hearing rumors of the Nightmare Machine, Ranger sets out on a journey through nightmarish realms characterized by labyrinthine level design and ferocious combat encounters.

The free expansion marks a significant gesture from id Software toward the game’s dedicated community three decades after the original’s release. While available across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, the expansion notably excludes Epic Games Store and GOG, limiting distribution to specific digital storefronts.

Surprise! The original Quake gets a free expansion on all platforms to celebrate its 30th birthday

Sources