To mark its 30th anniversary in 2026, id Software and MachineGames have released Dawn of the Machine, a free 19-map campaign for Quake. Available across modern gaming platforms, the expansive new episode introduces time-loop mechanics, secret realms, and brutal enemy variants for players.
The landmark first-person shooter that reshaped the industry in 1996 is expanding once more. To celebrate three decades of monster-slaying and labyrinthine corridors, the award-winning development team at MachineGames—working in close collaboration with series creator id Software—has released a brand-new official episode titled Dawn of the Machine. The massive update is available at no extra cost to existing owners of the game across a wide array of modern hardware platforms.
Three Decades of Quake Reaches Modern Hardware
The anniversary expansion reaches players on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2 via backwards compatibility, Steam, the Microsoft PC Store, Game Pass, and PC Game Pass. The project stems from Quake Club, a dedicated group of MachineGames employees who craft maps in their spare time, making this release easily the most ambitious of the three episodes they have produced to date.
Trapped Inside the Nightmare Machine
The narrative framing thrusts the game’s protagonist, Ranger, into an endless illusion. Trapped in a dimension where time folds back onto itself, reliving the same violent cycles for what feels like lifetimes, and dying thousands of times in a futile attempt to escape, players must navigate a continuous flow of 19 all-new maps across a cohesive campaign to locate the mysterious Máquina de Pesadilla—The Nightmare Machine. Beyond the hordes of monsters twisted by an eternity in the Elder realms lies the Machine, and its destruction is believed to finally break the loop.
A Campaign Built on Endless Cycles and Replayability
The campaign’s structure incorporates a looping cycle where each visit in the present reshapes the future. If you load up a level again, new paths will unlock, new secrets will be made available, and there will be new upgrades for you to grow stronger. In addition to the 19 levels, the release includes a new Deathmatch map, a bespoke soundtrack, hidden secrets, and a dedicated episode hub.
Deadly Foes and Technical Polish for Veterans
Players will also encounter subtle but effective twists on familiar enemies and weaponry, including an axe, designed to surprise and delight long-time fans. The free add-on to the 2021 remaster also brings new achievements and several fixes, such as weapon bobbing effects and reduced memory usage for menus.
A QuakeCon Celebration of an Industry Milestone
The expansion was highlighted during a livestreamed panel discussion at QuakeCon, where current and past leaders—including id Software co-founder and game design icon John Romero—gathered to discuss the influential first-person shooter’s history. MachineGames, the studio known for the recent hit Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and several newer titles in the rebooted Wolfenstein series, delivered the project as a heartfelt celebration of the franchise’s legacy.
Worth a look