Quake 2 has been remastered and it’s out right now, but what does it add over the original version of the game and is it worth getting again?
It’s been two years since the original Quake got overhauled and Quake 2 is seeing a similar brush up. The Quake 2 remaster is available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam for $9.99. The game is also available on Xbox Game Pass, ready to be downloaded and played by subscribers. The surprise re-release of the new Quake 2 coincides with the start of QuakeCon.
Gamers who already own the original game on Microsoft Store, GOG, or Steam can get the new version as a free update. While the game is a remaster, it’s a little more than that. There are plenty of changes in Quake 2 but the major structure remains the same.
Here’s what they added in the Quake 2 remaster
There’s plenty of new content to enjoy in Quake 2, most notably a sizable expansion that adds 28 new levels to the game. Here’s everything included in the overhauled shooter:
- The original campaign
- The Reckoning and Ground Zero expansions
- A new expansion made by Machine Games of Wolfenstein fame
- Bonus levels from the N64 version
- The new expansion, Call of the Machine
- Changeable graphics settings
- New accessibility features
- Split-screen multiplayer for up to 8 players
- Online multiplayer that includes deathmatch, team deathmatch, and capture the flag
- Support for custom maps
- Support for new mods
- Improved AI for enemies and bots
Alongside this, Quake 2 now has crossplay support. This allows players to cross the console barrier, or even have PC and console players share a session.
Bethesda Softworks’ back catalog has been getting a lot of attention of late. Alongside Quake 2, a number of titles were recently added to the GeForce Now streaming service including Wolfenstein and the original Quake.

Are Quake 2 graphics improved in the remaster?
Quake 2 can now run at 4K resolution and has 120 Hz refresh rate support, but the textures remain unchanged.
The remastered version gets improved lighting, weapons, and enemy models. There are also a variety of new lighting features including dynamic shadows from weapon effects and glow maps on reflective surfaces like glass. The game lets players toggle these graphical features as they see fit. Quake 2 Remastered also adds multiple accessibility options including having the chat read aloud, transcribing voice chat, changing contrast, alternate typefaces, and more..
The Quake 2 remaster is available for $9.99 on all platforms. The asking price is a bargain when compared to the recently revealed Red Dead Redemption remaster.
The official remaster comes after Nvidia released a ray-traced version of the original in 2019. The new game lacks ray tracing but is available on multiple platforms including last generation consoles.