Quake “enhanced” re-release out before it’s announced (with Quake 64, too)

As leaked a few weeks ago by a QuakeCon scheduling slip-up, a re-release of iconic first-person shooter Quake slipped onto console digital storefronts on Thursday, slightly ahead of the project's official announcement. The $10 release is out now. Those who own Quake on Steam or from the official Bethesda.net store can access the update for free.

Bethesda's re-release is available for the Switch, Xbox One and X|S, and PlayStation 4 and 5. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can access the edition as part of their subscription. The multi-platform release could be seen as positive news after Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, a move that generated worries about Microsoft/Bethesda exclusivity moving forward. For those who don't mind waiting, Limited Run Games will offer physical disc and card releases for the PS4 and Switch, respectively, including a pricey limited edition that comes in a box that looks like the in-game nail-gun ammo.

Four expansions are included: "Scourge of Armagon" and "Dissolution of Eternity," which launched at retail shortly after the original 1996 game, and MachineGames' "Dimension of the Past" and "Dimension of the Machine." And, yes, online matchmaking is available, too, complete with platform crossplay. Local split-screen remains intact for up to four players, and a quick run through the Xbox version reveals numerous graphical options, even on the Xbox Series X. For instance, players can drop the resolution to "SD" levels and apply fog.

One other notable inclusion: Players can access a built-in add-on menu to download a simulated Quake 64 using the PC version as a base to mimic the original. That version includes simulated, N64-like blur effects that cannot be turned off. The add-on interface resembles Bethesda's recent Doom and Doom 2 port projects on consoles and PC, suggesting that more "mod" packs of levels and content will come to this Quake 1 re-release in future updates.

According to a press release, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game will run at full 4K and 120 fps once a future update goes live.

Sam Machkovech contributed to this report.