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Yes on modern PCs; on consoles, use the official in-game Add-Ons and updates. The enhanced PC edition of Quake can load many original-compatible mods, but the map must support the engine you use. Console support is more curated: Bethesda documents official Add-Ons, not a general way to install arbitrary downloaded fan files.
What counts as a Quake fan level?
A fan level is community-made content, such as a map or map pack, rather than an episode released by the game’s developers. That distinction matters: the 2026 Dawn of the Machine episode is official content made by MachineGames and id Software, while Q30 Deathmatch Jam is a community map pack.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Quake II Limited Run Games #207 - Nintendo Switch | $55.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Quake (Limited Run #419) - PlayStation 4 | $55.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Quake II Limited Run Games #10 - Xbox One/Xbox Series X | $60.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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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)
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Quake: Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Playing fan levels on PC
Bethesda Support says, “The PC version of Quake supports both official Add-Ons, and others can be sideloaded similar to the original game.” In practice, this means the enhanced PC edition can load some user-installed mods placed in the game’s installation directory. Bethesda also cautions that different community source ports have different feature sets and that compatibility is not perfect. See Bethesda’s PC mod support page.
Check the map’s engine requirements first
Before installing anything, identify whether the release is intended for the enhanced edition or a particular source port. A map may rely on features that one engine supports and another does not. Bethesda notes that it cannot confirm compatibility for every modern Quake mod, so follow the map creator’s stated requirements rather than assuming an older mod will run unchanged.
#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
Example: Q30 Deathmatch Jam
PC Gamer reports that Q30 Deathmatch Jam contains 22 new arenas and is designed for Ironwail, Netquake, or Nightdive’s Kex port, the engine used by the Quake remaster. Its report describes loading the pack as a standalone mod into a Quake directory and starting it through the game console. This is a specific example, not a universal installation method for every map pack. PC Gamer’s Q30 Deathmatch Jam coverage gives the pack’s details.
Playing extra levels on consoles
On consoles, the supported route is the official in-game Add-Ons menu and content delivered through official game updates. Bethesda’s materials do not document a general method for copying arbitrary downloaded PC fan files onto PlayStation or Xbox. That is a difference in supported access; it does not mean official console content can never include community-originated material.
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
Bethesda’s 2026 30th-anniversary update adds Dawn of the Machine for owners of Quake on the platforms listed in the update. The episode contains 19 new maps, but it is an official developer-created campaign, not a bundle of fan levels. The update 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. Availability can depend on the exact game version and store listing; consult the official Quake 30th Anniversary Update announcement.
PC and console routes compared
| What you want to do | Modern PC | Console |
|---|---|---|
| Install arbitrary downloaded fan files | Supported for some mods in the enhanced edition; compatibility depends on the map and engine. | Not established by Bethesda’s official materials as a supported general sideloading option. |
| Access official extra content | Official Add-Ons and updates are available through supported game versions. | Official Add-Ons and updates are the documented route. |
| Choose a map’s engine or source port | Check the release requirements; some maps target specific ports. | Players use the official game’s supported content path rather than selecting a separate PC source port. |
| Installation effort | More flexible, but may require placing files and troubleshooting compatibility. | Simpler for curated official content, with less documented flexibility for user files. |
A practical way to decide
- Want a specific community map? Use a PC and check the creator’s engine and installation requirements before downloading.
- Want extra content without file setup? Check the in-game Add-Ons menu and the current official update listing for your platform and edition.
- Want the same fan pack across PC and console? Do not assume it will be available on both; the documented user-file route is for PC, and a map must still match the PC engine you run.
Bethesda’s Quake Release Notes & FAQ also describes the official Add-Ons system and PC mod background; for the current anniversary content and platform list, use the 2026 update announcement.
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
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