Question 1

Which version of Quake II does the GOG purchase give me?

Accepted Answer

Both. GOG's Quake II listing is a pack containing Quake II (Enhanced) — Nightdive's 2023 remaster — and Quake II (Original), the untouched 1997 build. One purchase installs both, and you choose which executable to launch.

Question 2

Is Quake II free?

Accepted Answer

No. It is $9.99 on GOG, DRM-free. PlayBound lists it because that price covers five separate campaigns, two engine builds and working online multiplayer, which is the kind of ratio our catalog is for.

Question 3

Does Quake II have controller support?

Accepted Answer

Yes, full controller support in the Enhanced build — both GOG and Steam list it, and it was built for the console versions of the remaster. The Original 1997 executable's gamepad handling is much rougher.

Question 4

How many people can play Quake II multiplayer?

Accepted Answer

Sixteen players online in deathmatch and team deathmatch, four players in online or split-screen co-op through any campaign, and up to eight in local split-screen PvP on PC. Crossplay works with Xbox, PlayStation and Switch players, and bots can fill out offline or online matches.

Question 5

Can I use Quake II mods with the remaster?

Accepted Answer

Not with the Enhanced build. Quake II mods shipped as native game DLLs compiled against the 1997 engine, and the remaster cannot load them. Use the bundled Original executable for Action Quake II, Rocket Arena, custom maps and the rest of the classic scene.

Question 6

Does Quake II run on Linux, macOS or Steam Deck?

Accepted Answer

GOG ships a Windows build only — there is no official Mac or Linux release of the remaster. It runs well on Steam Deck through Proton, and the Enhanced build's native controller support means it needs no community config.

Question 7

What is Call of the Machine?

Accepted Answer

A brand-new twenty-eight-level expansion MachineGames built for the 2023 remaster, plus a deathmatch map. It is included at no extra cost and is a genuinely new Quake II campaign, not a remixed one.

Official

Installation & Setup