QuakeCon is a storied esports event with a deep legacy that shaped the future of PC gaming. Let's take a look at some of its biggest moments.
QuakeCon returns to its roots in 2023, once again inviting fans to gather for an offline event. QuakeCon dates all the way back to 1996, becoming one of the first gatherings for a LAN PC competition. Famous for its BYOC (bring your own computer!) section, the event has gamers traveling from all over the world to celebrate FPS gaming as well as other genres — since other big Bethesda titles such as Fallout, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and The Elder Scrolls: Online have also often made appearances throughout the years.
Let's take a look at some of the most monumental events from QuakeCon:
1. Paving the way for offline events since 1996
First, we need to go all the way back to 1996.
Offline events as we know them today wouldn't be nearly as prevalent without QuakeCon, according to esports website Upcomer . In their list of moments that defined the world of esports, QuakeCon is number 1.
While the event did not intend to be primarily competitive (rather, it was to promote Quake), esports leagues began after that QuakeCon: the Cyberathlete Professional League and the Professional Gamers League. The first event had a demo of Quake and literally just about 32 participants in one room.
The growth since then has been unprecedented. Featured in the Guinness World Records 2018 Gamer's Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Gaming, QuakeCon is the longest-running esports event.
2. Quake Champions becomes free-to-play
Quake Champions was the first mainline entry since 2005. Following up the excellent Quake 3 Arena, Quake Champions was a monumental entry in the legendary FPS series. It brought a whole new type of gameplay, adding a fast-paced arena shooter feel to Quake.
Initially announced in 2016, Quake Champions became free-to-play in 2018.
Quake Champions shakes up the traditional Quake formula with 16 unique Champions, each with individual attributes and abilities for your individual playstyle. All the favorite guns you know are there, such as the Rocket Launcher, Lightning Gun, and of course, Railgun.
Quake Champions is available on Steam for free.
3. DOOM Eternal's first gameplay reveal
QuakeCon 2018 had another fantastic moment: the first gameplay reveal of DOOM Eternal. With deeper lore into the world of DOOM, and of course hot new guns as well as demons, fans got exactly what they've been asking for.
Check out the Doom Eternal gameplay reveal on YouTube (it's an age-restricted video). What's more, it was also announced that the game would come to Nintendo Switch! Truly a big moment for DOOM fans on all platforms.
4. The Greatest QuakeCon Duel Ever
QuakeCon 2016 featured a titanic duel between really big names of Quake's history, Rapha and Evil. Rapha has been dominant in the scene for a while, earning four championship titles, while Evil was somewhat of an underdog in comparison. Evil worked hard for years to climb his way to the top.
YouTuber xBioTV goes in great detail through that event, talking about everything leading up to it. It's an awesome breakdown of the greatest duel between two incredibly talented Quake players, so I highly recommend diving into it. The twists and turns of the matches make it a great watch.
To see more epic duels throughout QuakeCon's history, check out this video with Top 10 QuakeCon finals.
5. Other Bethesda reveals
QuakeCon is not completely Quake-centric. Bethesda has given a spotlight to some of their other games. Throughout the years, other than the iconic DOOM Eternal reveal, they have showed new gameplay for Fallout 76 and RAGE 2, new content for The Elder Scrolls: Online, and even Skyrim content with the recent 10th Anniversary of the venerated title. The Anniversary Edition includes all the Skyrim expansions (Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn), enhancements from the Special Edition, and items from the Creation Club!
We can't wait to see what Bethesda has in store for the future!
QuakeCon 2023 Dates
QuakeCon 2023 takes place on August 10th-13th in Grapevine, Texas, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.
QuakeCon 2023 Schedule
The QuakeCon 2023 Schedule will be posted when available on the website.
