MachineGames and id Software Release Free Quake DLC, Dawn of the Machine, Featuring 19 Added Levels, New Music and Deathmatch, to Celebrate Its 30th Anniversary

Quake fans have a great way to celebrate the iconic game’s 30th anniversary with a new free expansion made by MachineGames and id Software. It was announced yesterday that a new episode titled Quake: Dawn of the Machine is now available as part of a free update, and this is no petty add-on either. Featuring 19 new maps, a new soundtrack, and Deathmatch, plus other secrets, there’s plenty for players to delve into. With all the doom and gloom happening across the game industry regarding mass layoffs, and not to mention the ridiculous happenings in the hardware industry, this new free content couldn’t arrive at a better time.

“Can you believe 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Quake™’s release? To celebrate three decades of genre-defining FPS excellence, the award-winning team at MachineGames, in collaboration with id Software, is back with a brand-new Quake episode!”

– Parker Wilhem, Slayersclub

Players will navigate a labyrinthine dimension where time seems to fold back onto itself, whereby structures loop and reshape. The ranger can collect runes to unseal paths and discover new routes, secrets, and supplies for survival. New and old foes will be encountered, giving players the chance to see familiar combat but then new challenges, while also having the opportunity to discover new weapons.

“As players attempt to break the cycle, they will face deadly new twists on familiar foes, including the Rocket Ogre, Demo Dog, Blood Shambler and more. Meet the challenge head-on with new weapon variants like the lightning-charged Super Axe or the Laser Cannon, capable of ricocheting projectiles to perforate enemies from every angle.”

– Parker Wilhelm, Slayersclub

So, no time like the present to travel into the past and battle the future with Quake: Dawn of the Machine, where “The nightmare is an illusion” and “The machine is real”. The update is available for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 + 5, Nintendo Switch 2 (via backwards compatibility), and Nintendo Switch. More details for Quake: Dawn of the Machine can be found here.

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