Today id Software and Bethesda Softworks announced a new bundling of the original DOOM + DOOM II, with a whole bunch of enhancements using Nightdive Studio's KEX engine. A free update for existing owners too.
While we have various source port projects like the fantastic GZDoom, the newer KEX engine versions will at least make them play a lot nicer on modern systems completely out of the box. There's definitely something to be said for convenience.
Plus you get all these extras now too (from the Steam page):
New Enhancements
- Online, cross-platform deathmatch and co-op for up to 16 players.
- Community-published mod support with an in-game mod browser.
- Choose between the original midi DOOM and DOOM II soundtracks or the modern IDKFA versions by Andrew Hulshult (including brand-new DOOM II recordings).
- Improved performance with multithreaded rendering supporting up to 4K resolution.
- Now on the KEX engine.
- BOOM source compatibility makes it possible for hundreds of community-created mods from the past 25 years to be published in-game.
- Accessibility options, such as a modern font to improve legibility, high contrast mode, text-to-speech, speech-to-text multiplayer chat and more.
- Translated into 8 new languages: Mexican Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.
Existing Enhancements
- Upgraded visuals.
- Modern controller support.
- Weapon carousel for faster weapon switching.
- Improved mouse and keyboard controls.
- Local split-screen deathmatch and co-op for up to 4 players.
- Featured community mods²'³, including REKKR, Revolution!, Syringe, Double Impact, Arrival, and more! Expect an ever-expanding list of single player mods to be added by the community modders.
- 60 FPS and native 16:9 support – up to 1080p.
- Restored original in-game music using original hardware.
- Quick Save/Load support.
- DeHacked mod support.
Direct Link
On top of that, a brand new episode was also released named Legacy of Rust. This was made in collaboration by id Software, Nightdive Studios, and MachineGames. Legacy of Rust is the newest episode for DOOM, and the first official episode since DOOM II to feature new demons and weapons. This 16-map Episode is broken up into two 8 map sections: The Vulcan Abyss and Counterfeit Eden.
The online features do need a Bethesda account, just to be clear. Plus, the original DOS versions of DOOM (1993) and DOOM II are still included so it's not like they've just been wiped away, which is good to see for proper preservation. So no need to complain about the classics not needing to be touched, they're still there.
Find the newer DOOM + DOOM II on:
Same with the Quake remasters.
The only advantage is convenience.
A lot of these features actually sound inferior than the source ports.
Same with the Quake remasters.
The only advantage is convenience.
The official source ports will never be able to please everyone in a way source ports can.
Not yet on GOG for owners of the previous versions.Should be, they did announce it.
Should be, they did announce it.That does not matter on GOG, they announce many things that really are there a few days later, but it is there now. 2 hours between announcement and it actually being there is good.
Same thing happened when they simplified the Doom 3 Listing and I got the BFG version and DLC for free.
Looks like there's a nice amount of official DLC included OOTB including Sigil which is dope, and the new campaign and soundtrack should be good.
Same thing happened when they simplified the Doom 3 Listing and I got the BFG version and DLC for free.
Yeah that was a nice surprise, which I found out via GOL a *long* time after it happened.
Looks like there's a nice amount of official DLC included OOTB including Sigil which is dope, and the new campaign and soundtrack should be good.
"Legacy of Rust" appears to be completely new, so I'm curious about that. I have to confess though, that Sigil is still a bit too difficult for me, which is embarrassing considering how much time I've sunk into Doom. ---- at least it's sure to be memory safe, and blazing fast; so there's that. (badoom-tss ... badoom ... haha, get it?)
Edit: The latest release is now added to previous owners' libraries on GOG.
Last edited by walther von stolzing on 8 August 2024 at 9:37 pm UTC
Now on the KEX engine.But I hadn't finished playing through Doom II's Unity port that this has replaced!
Anyone know if I'll have to start over?
Now on the KEX engine.But I hadn't finished playing through Doom II's Unity port that this has replaced!
Anyone know if I'll have to start over?
I don't think savegames are compatible, but the IDCLEVXX cheat should work (either by entering it during gameplay, or in the console – or perhaps try "map e1m5" in the console).
For instance, to access E1M5 in Doom 1, use IDCLEV15. In Doom 2, this would access MAP15.
I will probably play Legacy of Rust through a source port at some point, seeing how GOG and Microsoft gave it to me for free. As has been noted on Doomworld, kinda odd to officially integrate SIGIL and not SIGIL 2.
Last edited by Technopeasant on 9 August 2024 at 3:04 am UTC
Then we remembered the remastered from nightdive and we where like: I hope they do a proper remaster of Doom as well.
And here we go, need to check out if they did a better job at coop split screen xD
I was curious to see how they would do Quake 3. :P Oh well, we'll see next year or if they'll do Doom 3.
I am all in on this. Even though the Doom 3 BFG Edition runs pretty decent even today. Can't wait to get yet another version of D3 for my library xD
Also Q3 Arena (not the weird Quake Live thing) would be pure dope too!
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