Quake Archives

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

After Warcraft 3’s first new campaign in 23 years, let’s normalize releasing new DLC for ancient RTS games

The gaming landscape is experiencing renewed interest in older titles, as seen with expansions for classics like Songs of the Past for The Witcher 3. Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 are expected to remain relevant for years, making them candidates for future downloadable content. Quake has added a new episode, and Nightdive is remastering Thief. At BlizzCon 2026, the Warcraft 3 Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom expansion was announced, highlighting nostalgia for RTS games. Microsoft has revitalized the Age of Empires series with updates, while newer titles like Age of Empires 4 have struggled. Relic's Dawn of War: Definitive Edition has sold 750,000 copies, indicating demand for remastered RTS games. The remaster of Command & Conquer and Red Alert in 2020 shows the potential for nostalgia-driven content. Expanding existing titles like Rise of Nations and Supreme Commander could be beneficial, and while reactions to new content may be mixed, the concept has promise. The RTS genre has an opportunity to leverage its history while innovating for the future.

Winsage

September 24, 2026

86Box Setup Guide 2026: Emulate a Windows 98 PC in 13 Steps

86Box is an emulator that meticulously reconstructs vintage PCs, allowing users to boot operating systems like MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows XP. The latest version, 6.0, was released on May 31, 2026, featuring a native Windows ARM64 build and discontinuing support for macOS 10.13 High Sierra. It has approximately 2,400 monthly searches in the U.S., indicating a demand for setup guides among enthusiasts. Unlike DOSBox, which creates a generic DOS environment, 86Box emulates specific hardware components for authentic execution of various operating systems. Originally a fork of PCem, 86Box has expanded its supported motherboards and developed a community of contributors. Version 6.0 has established it as the preferred choice for retro-PC builders in 2026. Before installation, users need a minimum of a 64-bit Intel Core 2, AMD Athlon 64, or ARMv8 CPU, 4 GB of RAM, and a compatible host operating system. The installation process involves downloading the appropriate build, sourcing a legal ROM set, and configuring the virtual machine using the 86Box Manager. Users can select specific graphics cards and sound hardware to replicate the original systems accurately. The setup requires installation media for the guest operating system, which must be sourced legally. Common pitfalls during setup include ensuring the BIOS ROM is available, matching CPU speed to software era, and installing the correct drivers. A properly configured virtual machine should display a BIOS POST screen and boot the selected operating system. Troubleshooting common issues often involves checking for missing ROMs, uninstalled drivers, or performance settings. 86Box is open-source and legal to use, but users must ensure they have legitimate licenses for any software used within the emulator.

AppWizard

September 13, 2026

Blizzard just dropped a new Warcraft 3 campaign, the first in 23 years

Blizzard Entertainment has announced the release of a new campaign for Warcraft 3 titled Forsaken Kingdom, marking the first addition since the Frozen Throne expansion in 2003. The campaign is a two-part series for Warcraft 3: Reforged and includes a prologue focusing on the backstory of Arthas. Forsaken Kingdom became available immediately after its announcement at BlizzCon.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

5 Best Video Games Like Quake

In 2021, interest in the first-person shooter "Quake" from the '90s surged, leading to discussions about similar games. "Doom II," released in 1994, featured larger levels, new enemies, and enhanced multiplayer options, becoming one of the best PC games of the '90s. "Heretic," also from 1994, allowed players to control Corvus, an elven warrior, and included multiplayer combat, with innovations like an inventory system and secondary fire options. "Duke Nukem 3D," released in 1996, introduced a humorous protagonist and featured cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, becoming a nostalgic classic. "Turok 2: Seeds of Evil," the 1998 sequel to "Turok: Dinosaur Hunter," included multiplayer modes and showcased advanced graphics and level design, remastered in 2017. "Unreal Tournament," launched in 1999, emphasized multiplayer combat in an arena shooter format, marking a significant moment for Epic Games and showcasing impressive visuals and performance.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

The Quake community simply cannot stop delivering, having just released a 22-map ‘Deathmatch Jam’ to celebrate the shooter’s 30th birthday

The Quake community is celebrating the game's 30th birthday with various map jams, including two 'Quickie' speedmapping jams, a 1024 Jam, and a Limits Jam. The Q30 Deathmatch Jam has produced a map-pack with 22 new arenas designed for classic Quake gameplay, featuring contributions from notable designers like Mazu and Makkon. The new maps are compatible with modern Quake sourceports such as Ironwail, Netquake, and Nightdive's Kex port. Additionally, a new episode titled Dawn of the Machine has been released in collaboration with Machine Games, following their previous release, Dimension of the Machine, from 2021.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

I got so freaked out by the fact that Gordon Freeman is canonically 27 that I decided to find out how old all the other classic FPS protagonists are, and it didn’t make me feel better

The narrator first played Half-Life at age 11 and found it frightening. B.J. Blazkowicz from Wolfenstein 3-D was born on August 11, 1911, making him 32-33 years old during the game's events. He is the grandfather of Commander Keen and an ancestor of DoomGuy. Kyle Katarn from Star Wars: Dark Forces was born in 23 BBY, making him 23 during Dark Forces, 28 in Jedi Knight, and 35 in Jedi Outcast. Cate Archer from No One Lives Forever was born in 1942, making her 25 during the game's events set in 1967. Prisoner 426 from Unreal has no defined age, allowing for player interpretation. Caleb from Blood was born in 1847, making him 81 during Blood set in 1928, but his death complicates his biological age. DoomGuy's age is generally assumed to be in his mid-thirties, though it is never officially specified. Ranger from Quake is suggested to be in his mid-forties to early fifties, based on lore from Quake Champions. Duke Nukem's age is ambiguous, with some sources suggesting he is between 45 and 47 during Duke Nukem Forever, while others envision him in his mid-thirties.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Cancelled Quake 4 expansion gets surprise GitHub release after former XCOM 2 developer discovers it on an old hard drive: ‘This essentially saved my life’

The original Quake has unveiled an official new episode as part of its 30th anniversary at QuakeCon. Additionally, a build of the previously cancelled expansion Quake 4: Awakening has been discovered on GitHub. This expansion was under development by Ritual Entertainment but was halted by Activision due to poor sales of the base game. A veteran game developer named Marshall found the expansion on a second-hand PC and shared it on GitHub, expressing that it had a significant emotional impact on him. The build includes configuration files with names of former Ritual employees, suggesting its authenticity. Gameplay footage shows new weapons and missions, indicating that the expansion was nearly complete before its cancellation. Marshall aims to preserve the project and hopes the community can help refine and eventually release it.

Winsage

August 8, 2026

Developer ported Word for Windows 1.1a from 1990 to run natively on Windows 11

Microsoft Word has evolved from a basic text editor in the 1980s to an AI-enhanced platform capable of generating text autonomously. Developer Justin Marshall has revived Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a, originally released in 1990, using the open-source code made available by Microsoft in 2014. This version has been crafted into a native 64-bit Windows executable, allowing users to run it on Windows 11 without emulators. The interface is stripped of modern features, offering a simple sheet of paper and basic formatting tools reminiscent of early Windows design. Marshall has a history of reviving classic software and has other projects showcased on his GitHub page. Word for Windows 1.1a is available for download for those interested in experiencing early word processing.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

New official 30th anniversary Quake mission pack adds new maps and mechanics

Players can experience a new campaign in Quake where they assume the role of a Ranger in a dimension with a unique time-looping structure. They will collect runes to unlock new pathways and upgrades, enhancing gameplay for both new and veteran players. The newly added maps are available for free to existing owners of Quake on Steam and current and last-generation consoles. Meanwhile, id Software has experienced layoffs due to Microsoft’s reorganization, but most of the studio is focused on the Doom reboot series, while MachineGames is developing new content for Quake. Classic games like Quake are receiving new content years after their release, similar to the revival of Age of Empires II.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Trent Reznor on Doom: ‘In some ways I felt a parallel with what I was trying to do with music’

A Quake-themed QuakeCon event celebrated the 30th anniversary of the iconic shooter, featuring a panel with John Romero and Marty Stratton, and the unveiling of a new 19-level episode of Quake. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails made a brief livestream appearance, reflecting on his significant contribution to the game's soundtrack in 1996. Quake's music, characterized by industrial soundscapes, created an intense atmosphere that sometimes led players to mute the audio. In honor of the anniversary, new Quake-themed merchandise was launched, including an ammo box, t-shirt, keychain, hoodie, and reissued vinyl soundtrack.