Quake is back: Bethesda announces arena-based shooter Quake Champions for PC at E3 2016

Following the rousing success of its recent blood-filled Doom reboot, Bethesda kicked off its E3 2016 showcase by announcing the revival of another classic FPS from id Software — Quake — with an exciting new cinematic trailer. Dubbed Quake Champions, the new version will be a super-fast, arena-based multiplayer shooter for PC, "designed for people at all skill levels."

"Yes, Quake is back," said id Software studio director and co-designer of the original game Tim Willits. "The game that defined competitive multiplayer is back."

Featuring fast FPS gameplay, Willits says the game is designed to be a fixture of eSports , tapping into the already thriving competitive Quake scene. Running with an unlocked framerates, the multiplayer shooter is a hero shooter, featuring a diverse roster of characters, each sporting his or her own unique attributes and abilities.

"It is for players of all play styles," Willits said. "We know that high-end performance is critical for this type of game. Quake Champions will be fast, running at 120 hertz. You will get heart-stopping action as you fight on the edge of your seat."

Although the reveal trailer does not focus on gameplay, it does show off some of the characters we can expect to see in the new Quake, as well as a few unique skills including teleportation and thermal vision.

"20 years ago, Quake set new standards for multiplayer competition and pushed the boundaries for graphics and gameplay," said Willits. "It's important to all of us at id Software that Quake Champions remains true to the Quake legacy, and delivers the speed and gameplay our longtime fans expect, while also pressing forward by introducing new gameplay opportunities with new Champions and abilities."

The original Quake was first released back in 1996, which makes 2016 the perfect time to launch a reboot of the classic in celebration of the long-running series' 20th anniversary. Champions will also be the first new Quake title in nearly a decade, following the release of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars in 2007.

While the developer has not announced a release date yet, more details will be revealed at the annual QuakeCon, which runs between 4 and 7 August in Dallas, Texas.