Two years ago, at Quake Con 2021, id Software and Nightdive Studios shadow dropped a remaster of the original Quake which was critically acclaimed for its features and meticulous polish. Two years later, id Software and Nightdive are at it again with an enhanced version of Quake II, available now for all platforms and the best part is that, if you already own Quake II on Steam, it's a free update.
Quake II is currently listed as 
Playable on Steam Deck, although that rating is from the original version so needs Valve to re-review it.
Here's a brief rundown from Bethesda's own launch page:
- Includes the original Quake II campaign plus both Mission Packs, The Reckoning, Ground Zero, plus the previously Nintendo 64-exclusive Quake II 64 and the brand-new Call of the Machine episode from MachineGames.
- Improvements to gameplay, including content restored from the original development, plus visual upgrades such as dynamic shadows, improved lighting, glow maps and more.
- Play local split-screen and online across four Multiplayer modes with crossplay functionality:
- Cooperative
- Deathmatch
- Team Deathmatch
- Capture the Flag
- Add AI opponents in Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes, explore the id Vault, enjoy improved co-op play and much more!
- Various accessibility additions.
Additional Editor note from Liam Dawe: giving it a run on Steam Deck with Proton 8 - it works out of the box. Thanks to Nightdive's upgrades it has the Vulkan API by default, and supports the Steam Deck's native 800p resolution too with controller support working perfectly. Even with the enhancements turned on appears to give really good performance too. Screenshots below:
Aug 11, 2023
There's a couple of mods available to restore the red crosses on the medkits and the original weapon switch sound.
Picked my Steam key up from Gamebillet which was charging a much better price than Steam itself. I still have the original CD from the 1997 release, too!
EDIT: formatting.
Last edited by robvv on 11 August 2023 at 9:10 am UTC
QuoteNote: Steam, GOG and Microsoft Store users who already own Quake II will automatically receive the new version with a free download. Read the FAQ below for details on how to access the original version.Wiiiiiii *-* I bought it when I got a 3080 to try the path-traced demo. I think this will be the first person shooter I will play on a Deck, I've been avoiding playing FPS on it for a year.
Quoting: AsciiWolfWhat about the original version? Is it still available?When launching you get the option to launch the new or the classic version.
By the way, I still dream of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars being re-released on Steam.
Quoting: scaineQuoting: AsciiWolfWhat about the original version? Is it still available?Enemy Territory was absolutely immense. It was the first arena game that I played that had actual roles/classes. Or at least, definitely the first one where those mattered, anyway.
By the way, I still dream of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars being re-released on Steam.
wasn't that one of the first titles to get a raytracing version as a demo. all the way back in the mid 2000's
I wouldn't mind some quality of life improvements to ET if they re-release it like RTX and some updated textures, models + lighting effects.
My second thought was: Where is my Quake II CD ?
My third thought was: Why Yamagi is not installed on my machine?
My fourth thought was a couple of hours later: Crap, now I remember why I remove it....
Now I have to wait the Remastered to be on GOG.
Tryed different Proton settima but It close immediatly After push play
Plintslîcho Aug 11, 2023
thanks for the info!
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