Quake 2 is currently free via the Bethesda launcher, next week is Quake 3

During the digital QuakeCon event, Bethesda gave away the original Quake game to celebrate the franchise. Fans were then given the opportunity to get Quake 2 for free if they helped Bethesda meet its charity fundraising goal. The original goal was to raise $10,000 USD, but the milestone was shattered with a total of $30,686.48 raised. Since then, Bethesda has been so impressed that it has decided to give away Quake 3, too.

Quake 2 is currently free on the Bethesda launcher, but you don’t have long to claim it. The giveaway period lasts exactly 72 hours, so you have until August 15 at 12 PM ET to scoop it up. Fortunately, Bethesda’s made it easy to acquire. All you have to do is login to the Bethesda launcher or sign up with a new account. Quake 2 will automatically be added to your library and it’s yours to keep forever. You can download it later at anytime.

Legendary carnage

Quake 2 was one of the most iconic FPS games of the 1990s, and the existence of QuakeCon is proof of that. No other FPS franchise can claim 25 years of dedicated festivities. When Quake 2 launched in 1997, it competed with the likes of the Doom franchise and many other FPS titles. To put things into perspective, the FPS genre in the 90s was popular like the battle royale genre is today. The fact that Quake 2 rose to the top is a testament to its solid gunplay and level design.

Anyone that appreciates retro titles should definitely give Quake 2 a go. It’s a nostalgia hit for existing fans and a chance to experience a gaming classic for those who missed out the first time around. The textures do of course look dated, but the title received a ray tracing update last year that really improves the experience. Furthermore, anyone with an RTX graphics card finally has a chance to use those fancy tensor cores without destroying their FPS.

Quake 2 feels great with modern day performance, even without the enhanced graphics to complement the gameplay. Quake 2 is a particularly great example of the difference good lighting and reflections can make in a game. The RTX certainly demands a replay from any true Quake fan. It would be especially interesting to see Quake 3 get the same treatment, though that’s just wishful thinking. Regardless, don’t forget to pick up Quake 3 next week, starting on August 17 at 12 PM ET. You will have 72 hours to claim it just like with Quake 2.