Quake has received a substantial free expansion called Dawn of the Machine as part of the game’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
The new episode was created by MachineGames and id Software for the 2021 remaster of Quake. It adds 19 new missions, additional weapon variants, three achievements, a single player cheats menu, a behind the scenes gallery, and a collection of bug fixes.
Dawn of the Machine is available now on PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. It is also included for Game Pass players at no additional cost.
The Epic Games Store and GOG versions had not received the update at the time of the announcement.
Dawn of the Machine adds a full new Quake campaign
The main addition is a 19 mission campaign built around a looping structure where actions taken in the present can alter what players encounter later.
You once again play as the Ranger while moving through interconnected environments filled with familiar enemies and new threats.
| Dawn of the Machine content | Details |
|---|---|
| New missions | 19 |
| Playable character | Ranger |
| New weapon variants | Yes |
| New achievements | 3 |
| Cheats menu | Added for single player |
| Behind the scenes gallery | Included |
| Bug fixes | Included |
| Price | Free for supported Quake owners |
Progression has also been expanded beyond the structure of the original Quake campaign.
Players can collect runes that open previously inaccessible paths. These areas contain additional routes, encounters, and secrets, giving missions more reasons to revisit previously explored locations.
Persistent health and ammunition upgrades are also part of the campaign. These upgrades remain useful as the episode progresses and add another layer of character development to Quake’s traditional shooting mechanics.
The campaign uses a time looping structure
Dawn of the Machine is built around a dimension where time can fold back on itself.
The developers describe the structure as one where returning to earlier moments can affect future areas. That gives the expansion a more interconnected design than a straightforward sequence of isolated Quake levels.
| Gameplay system | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Time loop structure | Changes later areas based on earlier progress |
| Runes | Unlock previously sealed paths |
| Persistent upgrades | Improve health and ammunition capacity |
| Hidden routes | Encourage exploration |
| Secrets | Reward repeated visits |
| New encounters | Expand the enemy and combat variety |
The new mechanics retain the fast movement and weapon focused combat of classic Quake while giving the campaign a more modern progression structure.
MachineGames has worked with Quake several times before. The studio contributed to earlier additional content and was also involved with the 2021 remaster.
New weapon variants expand the original arsenal
The update includes new versions of existing Quake weapons rather than replacing the game’s familiar arsenal.
Exact details about every variant were not provided in the announcement, but the additions are intended to build on weapons players already know.
This approach allows the expansion to introduce more combat variety without moving too far away from the original game’s design.
Dawn of the Machine also adds three new achievements, giving returning players additional objectives to complete.
The new single player cheats menu provides another way to experiment with the campaign. Players can use it to change how they approach levels without relying on external commands or older cheat entry methods.
A new gallery shows unused development material
The anniversary update includes a behind the scenes gallery containing unused content from development.
This gives players a closer look at ideas, assets, and material that did not appear in the final version of Dawn of the Machine.
MachineGames and id Software have also shared more information about how the campaign was produced, including details about their collaboration and level design process.
For a game celebrating three decades since its original release, the gallery gives the update an archival element alongside the new playable content.
Supported platforms and availability
Dawn of the Machine is distributed as an update to the modern Quake release rather than as a separate paid game.
| Platform | Dawn of the Machine availability |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X and Series S | Available |
| Xbox One | Available |
| PlayStation 5 | Available |
| PlayStation 4 | Available |
| Nintendo Switch | Available |
| PC | Available on supported versions |
| Xbox Game Pass | Included |
| Epic Games Store | Not available yet |
| GOG | Not available yet |
Players who already own the supported remaster do not need to purchase the expansion separately.
The absence of the update on Epic Games Store and GOG appears to be temporary, although no release date for those versions was provided.
The update also delivers a large collection of fixes
Dawn of the Machine arrives alongside a wider Quake update containing numerous bug fixes.
The full list is larger than the new feature announcement alone, making this both a content expansion and a maintenance release for the remaster.
That continued support is notable considering the 2021 remaster itself arrived years after Quake’s original 1996 launch.
The modern release has already received additional episodes and compatibility improvements, allowing the original game to remain accessible on current consoles and PCs.
Quake celebrates 30 years without announcing a new game
The announcement came during QuakeCon as part of Quake’s 30th anniversary.
Players hoping for a completely new Quake project did not receive one, but Dawn of the Machine provides a sizeable amount of new content for the original game instead.
Nineteen missions make it more substantial than a small anniversary bonus, while the rune system, persistent upgrades, altered progression, and weapon variants give returning players new mechanics to explore.
For anyone who already owns the remastered Quake, the expansion is a free addition that extends the game with a complete new campaign rather than a limited set of challenge maps or cosmetic items.
Dawn of the Machine is available now on most supported platforms, giving Quake another major expansion three decades after the series first launched.
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