The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes on PC, with compatibility caveats; on consoles, the supported route is Bethesda’s in-game Add-Ons and official updates. The enhanced PC edition can load original-compatible mods placed in its installation directory, but not every modern map or mod will work there. Bethesda’s materials do not document a way to install arbitrary downloaded fan files on consoles.
How the PC options differ
On PC, you can use Bethesda’s enhanced edition or a community source port. The distinction matters because a level may be built for a particular engine and its features.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Quake II Limited Run Games #207 - Nintendo Switch | $55.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Quake (Limited Run #419) - PlayStation 4 | $55.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Quake II Limited Run Games #10 - Xbox One/Xbox Series X | $60.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Quake II Limited Run Games #76 - Playstation 5 | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Quake: Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41C8x-61tGL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Quake: Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Bethesda’s enhanced PC edition: Bethesda Support says, “The PC version of Quake supports both official Add-Ons, and others can be sideloaded similar to the original game.” For sideloading, its guidance is to place supported files in the game’s installation directory. Bethesda also cautions that “compatibility will not be perfect” because community source ports have different feature sets. See Bethesda Support’s PC mod compatibility page.
- Community source ports: Ports such as Ironwail and Netquake support fan map packs made for them. A map that requires a different port may not run in Bethesda’s enhanced edition, so check the creator’s stated requirements and install instructions before downloading.
In practice, identify your game edition or source port first, then match the level’s requirements to it. Compatibility is specific to the map and engine; support for one pack does not mean every Quake mod will work.
What console players can access
On consoles, use the official in-game Add-Ons and content made available through Bethesda’s updates. The available evidence does not establish that players can copy arbitrary downloaded PC fan files onto a console and load them as they can on PC. That is a distinction about the supported installation route, not a claim that all console-accessible content lacks fan origins. Bethesda’s official overview of the release and Add-Ons is available in its Quake Release Notes & FAQ.
#1 Best Overall
- Experience the Military Sci-fi FPS, Enhanced
- Get the Original Mission Packs: The Reckoning and Ground Zero
- Play the All-New Expansion “Call of the Machine”
- Get Quake II 64 for Free
- Enjoy Online & Local Multiplayer/CO-OP
Console access is consequently more curated and straightforward, while PC permits more user-installed content and requires more attention to engine compatibility and installation.
Official new content is not the same as a fan map pack
Bethesda and id Software’s 2026 30th-anniversary update adds Dawn of the Machine, a developer-created episode offered as a free update to Quake owners on supported platforms. The episode contains 19 maps; those are official campaign maps, not a count of community-made levels. The announcement lists Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Microsoft PC Store, Game Pass and PC Game Pass, Steam, Epic, GOG, Nintendo Switch 2 through backward compatibility, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Check the listing for your specific platform and edition. Details are in the official 30th-anniversary update.
Rank #2
- 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.
- Experience the original game, enhanced
- Original & new expansion packs
- Multiplayer and co-op with crossplay
That official episode should not be confused with community releases. For example, PC Gamer reports that the 2026 Q30 Deathmatch Jam contains 22 new arenas and is designed for Ironwail, Netquake, or Nightdive’s Kex port, as used by the Quake remaster. Its report describes loading the pack as a standalone mod into a Quake directory and launching it through the game console. Those instructions apply to that pack, not to every mod. Read the PC Gamer report on Q30 Deathmatch Jam.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Enjoy the original, authentic version of Quake, now with up to 1080p* and widescreen resolution support, enhanced models, dynamic and colored lighting, anti-aliasing, depth of field, the original, atmospheric soundtrack and theme song by Trent Reznor, and more. There’s never been a better time to play Quake.
- 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.
- Expand your experience with free, curated, fan-made and official mods and missions such as Quake 64, which is available to download and play now. More fan-made and official mods and missions coming soon.
- Play the campaign and all expansion packs cooperatively or go toe-to-toe in multiplayer matches with your friends regardless of platform! Crossplay is supported among PC (controller-enabled), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
- Improve your gunplay with an option that allows you to aim using gyro controls. The option can be used in conjunction with the control stick for the perfect blend of immersion and accuracy.
Rank #4
- Experience the Military Sci-fi FPS, Enhanced
- Get the Original Mission Packs: The Reckoning and Ground Zero
- Play the All-New Expansion “Call of the Machine”
- Get Quake II 64 for Free
- Enjoy Online & Local Multiplayer/CO-OP
Rank #3
- Experience the Military Sci-fi FPS, Enhanced
- Get the Original Mission Packs: The Reckoning and Ground Zero
- Play the All-New Expansion “Call of the Machine”
- Get Quake II 64 for Free
- Enjoy Online & Local Multiplayer/CO-OP
Choosing a route
| Route | Can you install arbitrary user files? | Content and curation | What to check | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Quake on PC | Yes, for supported mods placed in the installation directory, according to Bethesda Support. | Official Add-Ons plus compatible sideloaded mods; not every modern mod is confirmed compatible. | Whether the mod supports original Quake or requires another source port. | More flexibility, with file placement and compatibility checks. |
| Community source port on PC | Fan maps are supported when made for that port. | Varies by port and map release. | The level’s named engine or port and its installation instructions. | Requires choosing and setting up the appropriate port. |
| Console version | Arbitrary downloaded fan-file installation is not documented by the cited official materials. | Official in-game Add-Ons and publisher-provided updates. | Whether the content is available for your console and game edition. | Simpler access to curated content, with less documented freedom to add files. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
