Abstract
- Heretic + Hexen returns as a shock, enhanced multi-platform re-release at QuakeCon 2025 – and it’s out as we speak.
- We speak with the inventive staff at Nightdive Studios about what they’ve improved upon, and what new options gamers can look ahead to.
- Heretic + Hexen is offered as we speak for Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox PC (as an Xbox Play Wherever title, and out there with Sport Move) in addition to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Swap, Steam, GOG, and is coming quickly to the GeForce Now and Boosteroid cloud streaming providers.
The FPS growth of the ’90s gave us a humiliation of riches when a number of soon-to-be-iconic franchises started to take form — and gaming hasn’t been the identical since. Alongside video games like DOOM, Wolfenstein 3D, and Quake, Heretic, and Hexen helped lay the groundwork for a budding style that has solely grown in recognition since.
Over the previous few years, id Software program and Bethesda have partnered with Nightdive Studios to revisit many of those classics with a stage of care and a spotlight to element that makes returning to those video games immensely pleasing experiences, each as a participant and as an interactive piece of gaming preservation. Nightdive’s current restorations of the superb DOOM I + II, Quake II, and most lately System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster, give the sensation of a studio cementing their fame for creating definitive variations of some actually iconic video games.
Now they’ve turned their consideration to 2 extra video games which can be rooted deeply in id’s wealthy legacy with the re-release of Heretic + Hexen, introduced at QuakeCon 2025 and out there as we speak throughout a wide range of platforms, together with Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox PC, with help for Xbox Play Wherever and with Sport Move.
Initially launched in 1994 and 1995 respectively, developed by Raven Software program and produced by id Software program, Heretic and Hexen turned important items of gaming historical past, particularly throughout the FPS style. By pioneering options similar to a listing system, the flexibility to search for and down, ambient sound results, and plenty of others, each video games would obtain crucial acclaim and, later, a cult-like standing amongst followers of the style. They set themselves other than the remainder of the style by dabbling with excessive fantasy themes, putting enchanted staves in our fingers, and letting us battle undead knights and different nefarious beings.
Quick ahead to as we speak, and the Heretic + Hexen enhanced re-release options all that authentic ingenuity, bolstered by an amazing variety of enhancements and new options. First off, efficiency has been improved, with as much as 4K decision and 120 FPS on supported {hardware}, plus a wide range of texture enhancements. The sport additionally delivers a remixed soundtrack created by Andrew Hulshult (DOOM + DOOM II, DOOM Everlasting: The Historical Gods elements One and Two, Quake Champions), in-game help for community-published mods, native split-screen for as much as 4 or 8 gamers, relying on platform, and on-line crossplay multiplayer help for as much as 16 gamers. For the gaming historical past buffs, a bunch of behind-the-scenes content material is offered so that you can discover the event journey of Heretic + Hexen. And maybe better of all, people from Nightdive and id Software program have collaborated to create two brand-new episodes to play by: Heretic: Religion Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandier.
To be taught extra in regards to the work Nightdive Studios put into restoring Heretic + Hexen, we talked with Studio Head Stephen Kick, and Builders Matthew Tropiano and Jaemen Moore about bringing these classics again to life, what new options they’ve carried out, and what new issues they’ve cooked up.
What has it been prefer to revisit these two iconic first-person shooters, Heretic and Hexen, in any case these years?
Studio Head Stephen Kick: Revisiting Hexen and Heretic has been each a nostalgic journey and a technical problem in one of the simplest ways doable. It’s extremely rewarding to provide longtime followers a trustworthy expertise that performs the best way they bear in mind it — and to introduce a brand new technology to the arcane magic and brutal problem of those cult classics.
For many who might not have performed them, or even perhaps heard of them, are you able to describe these video games?
Kick: Heretic and Hexen are darkish fantasy first-person shooters initially developed by Raven Software program [and published by id Software] within the mid-’90s, utilizing the DOOM engine as a basis — however they carved out a really totally different id. As an alternative of shotguns and house marines, you’re wielding enchanted staves, throwing fireballs, and battling undead knights, serpent riders, and demonic cults in gothic, otherworldly environments.
Collectively, they helped outline what a darkish fantasy FPS may very well be — mixing the visceral motion of DOOM with the environment and mechanics you’d count on from a Dungeons & Dragons marketing campaign. They’re cult classics for a purpose, and revisiting them now provides an opportunity to expertise that distinctive mix of magic, menace, and mayhem with a recent coat of paint.
Is there something in these video games that you just’d prefer to see in fashionable titles?
Kick: Completely. Some of the placing issues about Heretic and Hexen is how daring they have been in experimenting with mechanics that have been means forward of their time. Hexen particularly took actual dangers: non-linear hub worlds, character courses with distinctive playstyles, persistent development between ranges, and environmental puzzles that required precise commentary and reminiscence. It requested gamers to interact with the world, not simply run and gun by it.
We’d like to see extra fashionable titles embrace that form of design confidence — trusting gamers to get a bit misplaced, suppose critically, and uncover issues by exploration as an alternative of hand-holding. There’s additionally a sure tone these video games nailed: that grim, arcane, nearly oppressive environment, the place the world feels historic, cursed, and alive in a means that’s uncommon even as we speak. Extra video games may gain advantage from that form of worldbuilding, the place the setting isn’t only a backdrop however a personality in itself.
So sure, whereas the trade has advanced in wonderful methods, there are classes in Heretic and Hexen which can be nonetheless extremely related — about inventive risk-taking, environmental storytelling, and treating your viewers with respect.
What are a few of your favourite recollections from enjoying the unique video games, and what was it prefer to revisit these moments with these enhanced re-releases?
Kick: The very first thing I bear in mind about Heretic is the unimaginable field artwork illustration from [legendary fantasy artist] BROM! That picture of Corvus blasting a gap by a skeletal warrior with an arcane bolt actually painted an image of what was to return. I put in a shareware copy and was instantly impressed by the artwork route. The oppressive environment, darkish, winding corridors, and gothic structure all labored seamlessly collectively to create a foreboding dread I discovered charming.
One second that at all times caught with me was the primary time I picked up the Phoenix Rod in Heretic. You go from flinging magic projectiles to unleashing this fire-spewing employees that simply melts enemies — and it felt so highly effective, such as you’d uncovered an historic weapon meant only for you. Or in Hexen, that second you notice the degrees are all interconnected by a hub, and also you’re not simply transferring ahead — you’re circling again, fixing puzzles, and unlocking new paths. It felt revolutionary on the time — and actually, it nonetheless holds up as we speak.
What have been a few of your favourite or notable moments in the course of the growth of those restorations?
Developer Matthew Tropiano: One in all my favourite moments from doing these was attending to revisit quite a lot of the maps in Heretic and Hexen and seeing what may very well be improved from the bottom sport. In Hexen, we have been capable of put collectively a waypoint system of kinds on the automap in order that gamers have an thought of what to do subsequent in case they get misplaced. Loads of effort went into making that system a actuality, so hopefully it helps not less than a couple of gamers! Planning and creating a brand-new episode for Hexen was additionally a significant spotlight for me. I feel gamers will get pleasure from being challenged by a model new hub with cool new areas and locations to discover.
Developer Jaemen Moore: A sophisticated-up model of Heretic’s authentic maps is one thing I’ve wished to see for ages — form of a extra absolutely realized imaginative and prescient of what the unique builders had in thoughts with their unbelievable locales (e.g. doubling down on the aquatic/ocean theme for the Dome of D’Sparil episode). I even began a facet challenge a couple of years again to make that dream a actuality… after which this challenge occurred, and I obtained the possibility to make it for actual. Surreal.
Nightdive Studios’ work on FPS remasters, and sport preservation basically, has been extremely spectacular lately, from Darkish Forces to System Shock and naturally your work throughout DOOM I & II. What are among the key learnings you’re taking from these growth experiences right here to Heretic + Hexen?
Tropiano: For me, a lot of what remastering is about is the query of placing the proper steadiness between what to vary and what to protect. For Heretic + Hexen, we added quite a lot of new textures and graphics to Heretic that helped flesh out its locales, whereas additionally giving the group extra sources to work with when creating new content material. For Hexen, many of the modifications targeted on gameplay enhancements. Gamers can nonetheless play the unique video games sans modifications in the event that they wish to, however we really feel that what we modified improves the expertise of those titles.
Moore: The improved re-release of Quake II proved that it’s price taking the time to see if the core gameplay might be improved, because the modifications have been obtained very properly. Luckily, that is a type of “have your cake and eat it too” moments — the unique maps and gameplay balancing might be re-enabled by way of menu choices, so of us may expertise it because it was again within the day.
The unique video games have been foundational within the FPS style, with included options like stock programs, climate occasions, ambient sound, with the ability to search for and down, and extra. Are you bringing any extra tweaks right here to refine these distinctive options additional?
Tropiano: For essentially the most half, merely elucidating the aim of the stock gadgets at first look and permitting the participant to at all times search for and down with fashionable controls will profit the expertise fairly a bit. Being considerably cryptic was an indicator of mid-’90s gameplay, however quite a lot of that limitation was attributable to what I really feel was doable with the know-how and sensibilities that have been prevalent on the time.
Moore: One of many greatest additions we made to Hexen is including the flexibility to vary participant characters mid-game (by way of the Hexen Chronicle, a magic tome you’ll find in every principal hub map). It’s a easy addition, but it surely works wonders in follow. Every character performs very in a different way, and now you can play as all three over the course of the sport, quite than being restricted to only the identical loadout for its entirety.
May you speak about any of the extra high quality of life and accessibility updates you’re bringing right here to those enhanced re-releases?
Tropiano: Certain! We’ve added a contemporary font choice to the sport to make textual content simpler to learn for gamers who’ve problem with the unique pixel font, together with a high-contrast mode for textual content. Gamers even have the flexibility to scale back among the extra intense results and colours within the sport.
Moore: The automap waypoint system is price one other shout-out right here. We’ve mounted up a couple of of the extra obtuse elements of the extent design, if that fails, the automap is there to convey you again on monitor. Or you’ll be able to change waypoints off by way of menu possibility should you’d favor to navigate the old style means.
I perceive there’s going to be an ‘enhanced soundtrack’ right here as properly. Is that going to be alongside the strains of what we noticed with the soundtrack in DOOM I & II? May you speak a bit bit in regards to the work that went into creating this enhanced Soundtrack?
Moore: Yup, precisely! Andrew Hulshult is again with a brand-new set of remixes, masking each single music monitor in each video games. Calling it a “remix” isn’t even actually doing them justice, just like the compositions are insane (the spooky bells originally of Mist, the monitor utilized in Heretic’s map The Cathedral, provides me chills each time). From our facet, the method was to only sit again and let him work his magic, and the outcomes communicate for themselves. Gamers can choose into the unique soundtrack, in fact, however we’ve put the brand new tracks front-and-center ‘trigger they rattling properly deserve it.
May you share some extra particulars about what the 2 brand-new episodes will likely be, how they took place, and any notable designers in the neighborhood you labored with right here? Have any members of the unique growth staff assisted right here?
Tropiano: There have been stage designers (together with myself) that wished to work on one thing new for Heretic and Hexen. Kaiser (Sam Villareal) took level on the Heretic episode, whereas I dealt with the Hexen episode. We each enlisted the assistance of group member Not Jabba, in addition to Heretic + Hexen lead Xaser Acheron for map design, and artist Arthur Biver for extra graphic work. As for the unique builders — not less than in my case — they “assisted” not directly by inspiring among the areas within the new episodes. We stand on the shoulders of giants, in any case!
Moore: The brand new Heretic episode, Religion Renewed, incorporates a ton of latest textures and even a few new monsters (the Draugr and the Troll) based mostly on unused art work unearthed from the Vault. So, in a means, we did collaborate with the unique Raven artists by time. It at all times amazes me how a lot gold there’s to search out in these outdated dev sources, and I’m psyched we have been capable of assist convey a few of this unseen artwork again to life.
Why was it essential so that you can launch these remasters with help for Group-Printed Mods on day one?
Tropiano: Whereas we’ve quite a lot of expertise on our facet for the remasters, there’s loads of expertise on the market for individuals to discover outdoors of our purview. We would like as a lot entry to that work as doable, and it helps maintain these video games alive with recent content material to play!
Moore: It’s additionally price noting that we have been capable of carry over fairly a couple of modding options from DOOM + DOOM II to this challenge, since Heretic and Hexen are constructed upon the identical engine. Mods are an enormous a part of what has stored these video games alive for many years, and transport with out modding options wouldn’t solely have been an enormous step backwards, however we’d’ve truly had to return and take away options if we didn’t need them to ship.
The inclusion of behind-the-scenes content material is a good addition for sport historical past/preservation. Is there something in there that you just have been significantly excited to incorporate, or something notable segments that you just wish to ensure that readers take a look at?
Tropiano: For me, quite a lot of the Vault content material I discover fascinating is the idea art work and the graphics of props and different objects that didn’t make it within the authentic video games. Whether or not that was attributable to not discovering locations for them, or they have been minimize for time, who is aware of? Both means, I feel there will likely be quite a lot of Vault content material that each gamers and the group discover fascinating.
Moore: It’s at all times a bit shocking what number of “production-quality” belongings find yourself on the slicing room ground over the course of a sport’s growth cycle (attributable to altering designs, deadlines, and so forth), and I’ve been fascinated by the idea ever since discovering the outdated alpha variations of DOOM. I’m tremendous excited that we obtained one other probability to not solely launch these belongings by way of the Vault but additionally incorporate lots of them into each the brand new Religion Renewed episode and the retextures of the unique Heretic ranges.
The shadow-drop throughout so many platforms, from Xbox to Swap and Cloud, suddenly will need to have been an thrilling and daunting prospect. How did your staff strategy this problem, and why select QuakeCon to make this occur?
Kick: The Nightdive staff is at all times up for a problem, and because of our familiarity with the id Tech engine powering each Hexen and Heretic, we have been past ready. This will likely be our fourth shadow drop at QuakeCon, which has grow to be an annual occasion for our staff to return collectively and have fun one other stellar collaboration with Bethesda and id Software program.
Heretic + Hexen is offered as we speak for Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox PC (as an Xbox Play Wherever title, and out there with Sport Move) in addition to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Swap, Steam, GOG, and cloud streaming providers.
Heretic + Hexen
Bethesda Softworks
$14.99
PC Sport Move
Xbox Sport Move
Cast by Raven Software program on a modified DOOM engine, Heretic and Hexen have been launched in 1994 and 1995, pushing first particular person shooters into daring new territory. These progressive cult classics launched groundbreaking options like stock programs, vertical aiming, and distinct character courses, reshaping first particular person motion video games for generations to return. This enhanced restoration makes Heretic + Hexen out there to new audiences and long-time followers with expanded accessibility throughout extra platforms and languages than ever earlier than. Whether or not you are returning to those shadowy realms or discovering them for the primary time, an epic legacy awaits.
House owners Obtain
• Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
• Hexen: Past Heretic
• Hexen: Deathkings of the Darkish Citadel
• Two all-new episodes created in collaboration between people at id Software program + Nightdive Studios:
o Heretic: Religion Renewed
o Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur
© 2025 ZeniMax Media Inc. id, id Software program, Bethesda, Bethesda Softworks, and ZeniMax are logos of the ZeniMax group of firms. All rights reserved. HERETIC and HEXEN are logos of Activision Publishing, Inc. HERETIC and HEXEN: BEYOND HERETIC © 1994-2020 Raven Software program. All rights reserved.
