Quake Champions Closed Beta Begins on April 6
If you're looking to get in on the ground floor of the next Quake, the time is now.
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Bethesda and id Software announced today that the Closed Beta phase of Quake Champions will be starting on April 6, 2017. Interested players can head to the official website to sign up for the beta period, which will consist of a select group in the beginning, with additional players added over time.
Quake Champions is id Software's shot at making a pure esports title. The game is a free-to-play first-person shooter based largely on the gameplay that made Quake 3: Arena one of the biggest first-person shooters of its day. Players can enjoy the game with the sole free character, Quake protagonist Ranger, and use him to earn Favor to essentially rent the other Champions.
Think of it as Quake from the Overwatch era and esports world.
"Quake Champions is designed to be a competitive game that anyone can play. We believe that our matchmaking system and our ranking system, as well as the very nature of the Champions, will lend themselves to a great entry into this game for people who aren't familiar with Quake or maybe just haven't played it," said studio director Tim Willits.
"With Quake Champions, we will have free-for-all modes and duels, but our focus on team game modes allows everyone to participate in a team, and with the Champions it allows people who are newer to the game to find a Champion that will let them have more of an impact on their team, and therefore have a better chance of being successful," he added. "That's the success loop that we want to create with our players to give them that positive feeling and to let them have fun no matter what skill level they are."
Unlike Quake 3 Arena, Quake Champions' characters have different stats and capabilities. The current Champions include the ghostly Nyx with her wall jump, the charging Scalebearer, or the lightning-fast Anarki, who can also heal himself for a speed boost. Anarki is the latest Champion to be detailed and will be familiar to Quake 3: Arena players, flying across the map on his signature hoverboard. More Champions, including Ranger, Clutch, Galena, Visor, and Sorlag, will be detailed at later dates.
While Quake Champions will be primarily free-to-play, players can also purchase the Champion Pack, essentially a fully-paid version of the game, to have access to all of the Champions all of the time. Bethesda has yet to announce the final price of the Champion Pack.
