Quake Champions
Quake Champions is a free to play arena FPS built around classic Quake fundamentals, quick movement, precision aim, and relentless duels, while adding a hero-style roster with distinct active abilities. Matches are short, lethal, and skill-driven, with champions that slightly shift how you approach positioning, damage trades, and map control.
 | Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Playerbase: Medium Type: F2P Shooter Release Date: August 22, 2017 Pros: +Blisteringly quick arena combat +Distinct champions with abilities +Very high skill ceiling for competitive players Cons: -No offline play option -No community-hosted servers -Champions require unlocking/purchase |
Quake Champions Overview
Quake Champions brings the series back to its arena roots and marks the first new Quake release since 2005. At its core, it is about speed and execution, snapping between weapons, controlling power-ups, and winning fights through movement and timing as much as raw aim. On top of that traditional foundation, the game layers in a roster of champions, each with a signature ability and traits that nudge the meta in small but meaningful ways.
The pace is uncompromising, especially once you learn routes and start chaining movement through the map. Team modes reward coordination and awareness, but individual mechanical skill still decides a huge number of engagements. Visually, the game aims for sharp, readable arenas with modern lighting and effects, all while targeting high refresh gameplay, including support for 120hz and unlocked framerates for players who prioritize responsiveness. The competitive focus is clear, with an overall design that lends itself to tournament play and spectator-friendly, high-pressure moments.
Quake Champions Key Features:
- Part of the Quake Series – keeps the franchise’s trademark arena gunplay, speed, and emphasis on map control.
- Variety of Characters – select from multiple champions, each bringing a unique active ability plus strengths and tradeoffs.
- Amazing 3D Graphics – delivers modern presentation using a custom in-house engine.
- High Level Performance – built with smooth play in mind, including 120hz support and unlocked framerates.
- eSports Scene –tuned for serious competition, where mastery and consistency are heavily rewarded.
Quake Champions Screenshots
Quake Champions Featured Video
Quake Champions Review
Quake Champions is best understood as a modern arena shooter that refuses to slow down. If you enjoy tight 1v1 mind games, mechanical outplays, and the constant tug-of-war over armor and heavy weapons, it delivers the kind of intensity that few contemporary shooters even attempt. At the same time, it is not a casual-friendly experience, and some of its structural decisions can frustrate players who expect the flexibility and community tooling older PC shooters often provided.
Combat that rewards fundamentals
The gunplay is crisp and punishing. Time to kill varies by weapon and situation, but fights generally hinge on landing consistent shots while maintaining the right distance and angle. The best moments come when you are managing a duel on multiple layers at once, tracking cooldowns, listening for movement cues, and planning your next rotation even as you trade damage.
Weapons and pickups matter as much as aim. Learning where to be and when to be there is a large part of improving, and it gives matches that classic arena feel where better players can create advantages before the fight even starts.
Champions add identity, without replacing skill
The hero element is the main twist. Champions come with active abilities that can enable aggressive pushes, defensive resets, or mobility plays, and their inherent traits influence how you take engagements. The result is that matchups can feel different depending on the roster in play, but the game still leans heavily on arena fundamentals. Abilities can swing a fight, yet they do not remove the need for strong movement, tracking, and timing.
For newcomers, champions provide a clear “hook” and a way to find a style that fits. For veterans, they add another layer to predict and play around, especially when you start thinking in terms of cooldown windows and counterplay.
Movement and performance are the real selling points
Quake Champions feels built for players who care about responsiveness. High refresh support and unlocked framerates help it feel immediate, and when everything clicks, the flow of strafing, rocket jumps, and rapid repositioning creates that signature arena rhythm. It can be demanding, but that demand is also the appeal, it is a game that expects you to improve through repetition and deliberate practice.
Where it stumbles
The limitations outside the match are easier to notice over time. The lack of an offline mode means you are always dependent on online access. Similarly, not being able to host community servers removes a major pillar of longevity that helped older shooters thrive, including custom rulesets and community-run hubs.
The champion unlocking model can also be a sticking point. The game is free to play, but players who want immediate access to the full roster may not love having to purchase or unlock characters, especially in a genre where even small differences in kit can influence comfort and performance.
Who it is for
Quake Champions is a strong fit for competitive players who like high-skill FPS gameplay and do not mind a steep learning curve. If you want a shooter where movement mastery and map knowledge are central, it is one of the better options available. If you primarily want offline practice, community server culture, or a more relaxed on-ramp, its design choices may feel restrictive.
Quake Champions Links
Quake Champions Official Site
Quake Champions Steam Link
Quake Champions Facebook Page
Quake Champions Forums [Official]
Quake Champions Wikipedia
Quake Champions Subreddit
Quake Champions System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7
CPU: Intel i5 750 | AMD Phenom II X4-810
Video Card: Nvidia GT 730 | AMD R7 | Intel HD 530
RAM: 8 GB
Hard Disk Space: 20 GB
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel i5-2400 | AMD FX-8320
Video Card: Nvidia GTX 770 | AMD R9 290
RAM: 16 GB
Hard Disk Space: 20 GB
Quake Champions Music & Soundtrack
A dedicated soundtrack section is still pending, but sound design is a major part of how Quake Champions communicates information. Weapon reports are sharp and recognizable, movement audio is crucial for reading nearby threats, and arena ambience helps sell the mood without cluttering the mix. In a game this fast, clear audio cues often matter as much as visuals for decision-making.
Quake Champions Additional Information
Developer(s): id Software
Publisher(s): Bethesda Softworks
Game Engine: Custom in-house
Platform(s): PC
Closed Beta: April 06, 2017
Release Date: August 22, 2017
Steam Launch Date: August 18, 2022
Development History / Background:
Quake Champions is a MOBA FPS developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the first Quake title released since Quake 4 in 2005, positioning it as both a revival and a reinvention. The game was initially revealed at E3 2016 with a cinematic trailer rather than a full gameplay showcase, signaling an early-stage announcement.
From the start, the project was framed as a PC-focused release, and it was stated that it would not come to console. The business model is free to play, with an option to purchase access that unlocks the full set of heroes. Bethesda announced the Closed Beta would begin on April 06, 2017 through Twitter. Early access started on August 22, 2017, and it also launched on Steam. Early access originally carried a $30 price tag and included access to all characters.