Bethesda reintroduces the legendary Quake II with a slew of technical upgrades, a brand-new expansion, and nostalgic surprises.
Bethesda, in anticipation of Quakecon, has announced the re-release of the iconic first-person shooter Quake II. Touted as an “authentic, enhanced, and complete” package, this re-release brings a multitude of features for both new and returning players and is available on various platforms, including the PSN, Switch eShop, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The game is priced at $9.99, but Xbox Game Pass subscribers can access it as part of their membership.
This isn’t the first time Quake II has seen an HD makeover, with an earlier version bundled as a bonus with the first run of Quake IV on Xbox 360. However, this release is significantly more complete. Apart from the base game, players get access to the original mission packs: The Reckoning and Ground Zero. These are complemented by a brand-new expansion crafted by MachineGames titled Call of The Machine, offering 28 fresh campaign levels and a unique deathmatch arena.
In a nod to nostalgia, Bethesda has also included the N64 version of Quake II, which boasts ten unique deathmatch arenas and its own distinct soundtrack.
The impressive technical enhancements include support for up to 4K resolution, improved gore, animations, cinematics, restored AI behaviours, and more. Split-screen multiplayer, a fan-favourite feature, varies by platform. Xbox One, Switch, PS4, and PS5 support 4-player split-screen, while PC and Xbox Series versions cater to 8 players simultaneously.
The online multiplayer mode can support up to 16 players and offers crossplay capabilities. This means that regardless of the platform, friends can play together. Additionally, there’s bot support for both offline and online deathmatch and team deathmatch modes.
There’s more good news for fans of the original’s iconic heavy rock soundtrack by Sonic Mayhem. A Quake II vinyl will be released later this year in partnership with Laced Records later this year, and pre-orders are now open.
