Big news for gamers: the iconic first-person shooters Heretic and Hexen have made their way back to modern gaming platforms! Revealed during QuakeCon‘s welcome stream, developers at id Software announced that these remastered classics are now available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, all bundled together for just $14.99. For those on Xbox and PC, they’re even playable through Game Pass!
This revival is brought to life by the talented folks at Nightdive Studios, known for their impressive remasters of titles like Doom, Quake, and others. Originally hitting the shelves in 1994 and 1995, Heretic and Hexen set the stage for first-person shooters, opting for a dark fantasy twist instead of the usual sci-fi warfare.
Heretic was revolutionary for its time, introducing inventory management and vertical looking, while Hexen upped the ante with hub levels and unique character choices. These remakes sport jaw-dropping graphics, offering up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second on capable hardware, combined with a plethora of texture upgrades.
The remaster also features a remixed soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult, who has previously dazzled players with his work on Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods. Other exciting features include in-game support for community mods, local split-screen for 4-8 players, and online multiplayer for up to 16 players!
What’s really exhilarating is the introduction of two new chapters: Heretic: Faith Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandier, crafted by the teams at Nightdive and id Software. Matthew Tropiano shared, “For me, much of what remastering is about is finding the balance between what to change and what to preserve.”
Players can still opt to experience the games in their original formats, but the enhancements promise to elevate the gameplay while providing tools for the community to expand their creativity.