MachineGames and id Software have released “Dawn of the Machine”, a free update for Quake on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, marking the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking first-person shooter. This new episode arrives as a celebration of Quake’s legacy, offering a 19-map campaign, a brand-new soundtrack, and a Deathmatch map, available now at no cost to existing owners.
Thirty years after id Software’s original Quake smashed into the gaming scene, the new episode invites players to return to the boots of Ranger, the series’ protagonist, as he battles through an illusory dimension where time loops back on itself. To escape, players must break the cycle, uncover upgrades, and defeat The Nightmare Machine, the source of the planar prison. As MachineGames’ Lead Level Designer Andrew Yoder explains, the goal was to create something authentic to the original game’s spirit: “Horror! Action! Madness!“
The development team pursued three major goals for Dawn of the Machine. First, to celebrate Quake’s 30th anniversary. Second, to give veteran players a new experience by replacing the traditional hub structure of past episodes with a continuous progression that demands more coordination and iteration. Third, to allow the collaborative team at MachineGames and id Software to exercise their skills on a smaller-scale project, fostering expertise in areas outside their usual specializations, such as level designer Christian Plogfors contributing to the episode’s dark, ambient soundtrack.
Quake’s influence extends beyond its anniversary. The original game pioneered first-person shooters in 3D and helped launch competitive gaming through events like QuakeCon, North America’s largest LAN party. Available today as a free update, Dawn of the Machine not only honors the past but also provides a fresh challenge for longtime fans, reinforcing Quake’s enduring impact on the FPS genre and its community.
For more PlayStation content, check out the latest PlayStation Plus offerings for June 2026.
