Quake 30th Anniversary: Free Dawn of the Machine DLC

Quake is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and the classic arena shooter is getting another free expansion: Dawn of the Machine, an updated take on the 2021 revival. The new DLC arrives with a full campaign, fresh combat tools, and additional extras for players who already own the 2021 version.

Key takeaways

Dawn of the Machine is a new free expansion for the 2021-era Quake revival, released as part of the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
The campaign was developed by MachineGames in collaboration with id Software and includes 19 new maps.
New weapons include the Super Axe (lightning on impact) and the Laser Cannon (ricocheting shots).
An id Vault update was added, featuring behind-the-scenes Quake development material plus playable early-development maps.
The update also adds three new achievements and a new codes menu, alongside bug fixes.

MachineGames builds a 19-map campaign

This anniversary DLC brings a brand-new campaign to Quake. MachineGames—an established studio with prior experience on the original Quake and on expansions such as Dimension of the Past and Dimension of the Machine—worked with id Software on Dawn of the Machine.

In total, the expansion includes 19 maps. It also expands the arsenal with new weapons, including the Super Axe, which triggers lightning when it hits, and the Laser Cannon, which fires shots that can ricochet.

The story centers on Ranger, trapped inside a never-ending illusion where the same brutal events repeat. He has died thousands of times while trying to escape, until he finally hears rumors of the Machine of Nightmares. The DLC’s premise suggests that destroying this entity will break the illusion and end the loop once and for all.

id Vault, achievements, codes menu, and supported platforms

Beyond the campaign, the 30th-anniversary update adds id Vault—a special gallery focused on the creation of Quake. It’s designed to let fans see archival production materials from the original game, and it also includes playable maps from early development stages.

For gameplay support and progression, the update adds three new achievements and introduces a codes menu intended to help players get through a difficult area or explore levels without fear of fighting enemies. A number of bugs were also fixed.

Dawn of the Machine is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and on both Nintendo Switch models. It’s included for subscribers via Game Pass. On PC, the DLC is not offered on Epic Games Store or GOG.com.