To mark Quake’s 30th anniversary, id Software and MachineGames have released Dawn of the Machine, a free update available to all Quake owners on major platforms including Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC Game Pass.
The new episode introduces a substantial campaign centered on the character Ranger, who is trapped in a dimension of endless illusion. According to the announcement, Ranger must navigate through hordes of twisted monsters to reach The Nightmare Machine, whose destruction is believed to shatter the illusion and break the cycle.
Dawn of the Machine includes 19 all-new maps across a cohesive campaign, accompanied by a brand-new soundtrack, a dedicated episode hub, and a new deathmatch map. The update also features a unique looping structure where each return through familiar spaces reveals new routes, encounters, and secrets. Runes unlock previously sealed paths, while persistent health and ammo upgrades provide progression across loops.
New enemy variants include the Rocket Ogre, Demo Dog, and Blood Shambler, each with altered behaviors designed to force players to reconsider combat strategies. The update adds weapon variants inspired by classic Quake expansions, including the Super Axe, which unleashes lightning on successive strikes, and the Laser Cannon, firing ricocheting projectiles.
The episode emphasizes dynamic encounters where reality shifts between dimensions. Players can move between dimensional spaces to solve puzzles and discover hidden secrets, while some enemies transform or resurrect after death, creating unpredictable combat scenarios.
Additional features include an id Vault showcasing development assets and unused content from Quake’s earliest stages, three new achievements, and a cheats menu for single-player exploration.
The update also implements technical improvements across all platforms, including improved camera interpolation to reduce input latency and fixes for weapon effects and visual performance. PlayStation 5 receives specific fixes for controller vibration in legacy content.
Modding infrastructure has been updated, with localization strings now stored in game data rather than external files. However, Dawn of the Machine is not currently available on Epic Games Store or GOG versions of Quake, which may affect cross-platform multiplayer functionality for those players.
Key facts
- Dawn of the Machine is free for all Quake owners on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Game Pass
- The episode features 19 new maps, a new soundtrack, and a looping campaign structure with persistent progression
- New enemy variants and weapon variants add strategic depth to combat encounters
- The update includes dimension-shifting mechanics for puzzle-solving and secret discovery
- Technical improvements reduce input latency and improve visual performance across platforms
- Dawn of the Machine is not available on Epic Games Store or GOG versions of Quake