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Exactly three decades after the release of the original Quake, the developers decided to remind players why that title forever changed the history of FPS shooters. To mark the anniversary, MachineGames, in collaboration with id Software, has prepared a brand-new episode, available free of charge to all owners of the game. The new content is not merely a symbolic add-on. It is a fully fledged campaign with new maps, enemies and mechanics, designed to evoke the atmosphere of classic Quake while offering fresh challenges for long-time fans of the series.
Free Dawn of the Machine expansion arrives in Quake
The Dawn of the Machine expansion is now available as a free update for all owners of Quake on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The add‑on offers a brand new campaign consisting of 19 maps, as well as a new map for Deathmatch mode. The developers have also prepared an entirely new soundtrack, kept in the dark and atmospheric style typical of the series. In the campaign we once again take on the role of the Ranger, who is trying to escape a mysterious dimension where time continually loops around him. During play, players will discover further health and ammo upgrades before finally facing the powerful Nightmare Machine. The studio has also prepared new variants of familiar enemies, such as the Rocket Ogre, Demo Dog and Blood Shambler. New versions of weapons have been added to the arsenal as well, including the Laser Cannon, which reflects projectiles, and the Super Axe, which uses electrical energy. All of these elements are intended to preserve the fast-paced gameplay that Quake has been known for since 1996. The update is completely free for those who own the game and does not require purchasing additional DLC. This is one of the biggest surprises prepared to mark the 30th anniversary of the legendary series.
MachineGames opted for new ideas and a classic feel
The creators stress that their main goal was to capture the spirit of the original Quake, preserving the distinctive mix of horror, fast-paced action and a dark atmosphere. Unlike previous expansions produced by MachineGames, the new campaign does not use the classic hub structure. This time players progress through the entire story continuously, keeping acquired equipment and character progression from start to finish of the adventure. According to the designers, this approach required significantly more work on level design and on balancing the gameplay. The project was handled by an internal team known as Quake Club, made up of developers who are passionate about the cult series. Many team members have been creating their own Quake maps since the late 1990s, while some only joined the community in recent years. Thanks to simpler tools and the openness of the engine, developers who normally specialise in other fields were also able to get involved in the project. An example is the composer of the new soundtrack, who typically works as a level designer. MachineGames believes that this kind of collaboration allowed them to create an expansion faithful to the original, while also offering a completely new experience. The studio also emphasises the huge importance of the Quake community, without which the project would never have come about.
Quake celebrates its 30th anniversary in a special way. The free expansion Dawn of the Machine offers a fully fledged campaign with new maps, enemies, weapons and music, while preserving the atmosphere of the 1996 classic. It's an appealing proposition both for long-standing fans of the series and for players who want to discover for the first time why Quake still ranks as one of the most important first-person shooters in video game history.
source: PlayStation
