Overview
- MachineGames and id Software released Dawn of the Machine as a free update to the 2021 Quake remaster on Thursday, delivering a new 19‑map episode and a dedicated deathmatch map.
- The episode adds a looping, roguelite‑style structure with runes that unlock sealed paths and persistent health and ammo upgrades so each loop grows the player’s power.
- Players face new enemy and weapon variants, a new soundtrack, three achievements, a cheats menu, and an id VAULT that houses behind‑the‑scenes development assets.
- The update is live for owners on Steam, Microsoft Store/Game Pass, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2 via backward compatibility) but is not yet available on GOG or the Epic Games Store, and Switch hosts will disconnect during Dawn of the Machine map transitions so players should avoid hosting as a temporary workaround.
- The release arrived during QuakeCon and has drawn early technical praise for balance and mapping, even as coverage notes recent July layoffs at id Software and questions about the studio’s future output.