Summary

  • A possilbe tease for a new Quake game, Quake 6, was spotted during Microsoft's Xbox Developer Direct, sparking discussions about the franchise's future.
  • MachineGames, known for working on the Quake series, may have hinted at a new Quake game in a whiteboard scribble during the reveal of their upcoming Indiana Jones game.
  • While id Software has been focused on the Doom series, job postings and leaked documents suggest it may be working on a new FPS.

What appeared to be a tease for a possible new title in the Quake series, 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 original Quake back in 1996 marked a revolution for the video game industry. Thanks to innovations introduced by company co-founder and graphics pioneer John Carmack, Quake was 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 of Quake to 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 new Quake title, however, may have just been teased in Xbox's 2024 Developer Direct.

Quake Collage
Every Quake Game, Ranked

While it may have faded from mainstream gaming, the Quake franchise still features some legendary FPS titles.

At around the 11:35 mark of the official gameplay reveal of MachineGames' newly announced Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, what appeared to be a cut-off "Quake 6" accompanied by the Quake series' unmistakable logo can be spotted scribbled on a whiteboard. The tease was shared on the Quake subreddit, where it triggered a wave of discussions regarding a possible new Quake game. While not named Quake 5, Quake Champions is 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 the Quake series. The Swedish developer was responsible for porting enhanced versions of the original Quake and 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 of Wolfenstein, with the latest titles being considered some of the best games in the Wolfenstein series.

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 legendary Doom franchise. The studio has not announced a sequel to 2020's Doom Eternal, but spotted job 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 called Doom: Year Zero had already started by 2020. The next Doom game could be released in 2024, but it is unclear if id Software is involved in any way in this project. Meanwhile, Quake fans are still eagerly waiting to hear any announcements regarding the beloved series' future.

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First-Person Shooter
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Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
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Released
May 22, 1996
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
Developer(s)
id Software
Publisher(s)
Bethesda, GT Interactive
Engine
Quake Engine
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Quake
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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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.

Platform(s)
PC, Switch, Nintendo 64, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Sega Saturn
Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter