Summary
What appeared to be a tease for a possible new title in theQuakeseries,Quake 6,was briefly spotted during Microsoft’s most recent Xbox Developer Direct. The tease sparked a myriad of discussions regarding a potential new game in the franchise, which has largely lain dormant in the past few years.
The release of id Software’s originalQuakeback in 1996 marked a revolution for the video game industry. Thanks to innovations introduced by company co-founder and graphics pioneer John Carmack,Quakewas able to offer a well-optimized 3D experience to the mass market, and it has since been lauded as being one of the most influential games ever made. Despite the importance ofQuaketo gaming, the series it spawned has not seen much development in recent years, with the last entry in the franchise,Quake Champions, being released in early access in 2017. A newQuaketitle, however, may have just been teased in Xbox’s 2024 Developer Direct.
At around the 11:35 mark of the officialgameplay revealofMachineGames' newly announcedIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, what appeared to be a cut-off “Quake 6” accompanied by theQuakeseries' unmistakable logo can be spotted scribbled on a whiteboard. The tease was shared on theQuakesubreddit, where it triggered a wave of discussions regarding a possible newQuakegame. While not namedQuake 5,Quake Championsis considered to be the franchise’s fifth main game.
Supposed Quake 6 Tease in MachineGames' Xbox Developer Direct Presentation
MachinesGames is no stranger to working with theQuakeseries. The Swedish developer was responsible for porting enhanced versions of the originalQuakeand its first two expansions to modern systems. The studio’s connection with id Software does not end there, though, as MachineGames also spearheaded the reboot ofWolfenstein, with the latest titles being considered some of thebest games in theWolfensteinseries.
Wolfenstein 3D, dubbed the “grandfather of 3D shooters,” was developed by id Software. In recent years, most of id Software’s attention has been focused on the reboot series of its legendaryDoomfranchise. The studio has not announced a sequel to 2020’sDoom Eternal, but spottedjob postings indicated that id Software could be working on a new FPS.
Documents that were released as part of the withdrawn U.S. FTC lawsuit against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard showed that development for a title calledDoom: Year Zerohad already started by 2020. ThenextDoomgame could be released in 2024, but it is unclear if id Software is involved in any way in this project. Meanwhile,Quakefans are still eagerly waiting to hear any announcements regarding the beloved series' future.
Quake
WHERE TO PLAY
Defeat an ancient evil in this dark fantasy FPS, newly enhanced for modern hardware. Developed by the award-winning id Software, Quake is the ground-breaking, original dark fantasy first-person shooter that inspires today’s retro-style FPS games. Now, experience the authentic, updated and visually enhanced version of the original.You are Ranger, a warrior armed with a powerful arsenal of weapons. Fight corrupted knights, deformed ogres and an army of twisted creatures across four dark dimensions of infested military bases, ancient medieval castles, lava-filled dungeons and gothic cathedrals in search of the four magic runes. Only after you have collected the runes will you hold the power to defeat the ancient evil that threatens all of humanity.
