30 years ago, id Software changed PC gaming a third time over. The Wolfenstein 3D and Doom creators unleashed Quake, a new hellish realm, this time rendered with fully 3D character models. Incredibly fast despite the rusting environment, it was a revolutionary production, from its arena multiplayer, to the proliferation of the Quake Engine to the involvement of industrial icon Trent Reznor. To celebrate the anniversary, id Software announced a new expansion pack and limited collection with Nine Inch Nails. Which, in typical merch table fashion, has already sold out of just about everything besides than the music itself.
Titled “Dawn of the Machine,” the new Quake expansion features a new episode, 19 original maps, all created by current Wolfenstein stewards MachineGames. While a fitting return to the fully rendered gothic setting, some of these new visions feel inspired by more recent Quake descendants, such as David Szymanski’s indie hit Dusk. Dawn of the Machine is available for free for anyone with the base game’s 2021 remaster.
The announcement was made to kick off this year’s QuakeCon, which also included a pre-recorded message from original composer Trent Reznor. “Many years ago, when I first encountered Wolfenstein, it felt impossible,” says Reznor. “Doom comes out. It was like a bomb went off… It felt a parallel to what I was trying to do with music. Misshaping things and trying to express myself. Really felt a connection to it.”
Reznor, an id fanboy even in his MTV darling era, jumped at the opportunity to provide song and sound to Quake. Their union was further consummated by the in-game nailgun, which could be restocked by boxes bearing the NIN insignia. That box can now be yours. Or at least it could have been. An additional part of the birthday celebration is a new collection of NIN Quake merch, from nail box replicas to the iconic black tee Reznor wore when meeting David Lynch. Almost all of these items have sold out, except an LP of the Quake music itself. Never change, music fans.
PC shooters come and go but Quake and its convention have persevered. When it exploded, Quake’s arena multiplayer gave PC gaming a newfound purpose in LAN parties. Likewise the Quake Engine became the foundation of more classics like Hexen and Half-Life. The history of Quake is rich, but the future is uncertain. Recent shakeups at id Software’s parent company Microsoft have been severe, and the following layoffs are reported to have hit the Doom makers especially hard.