After an extensive closed beta period, id's free-to-play version of Quake III, Quake Live, has now entered open beta testing.

The web-based title boasts 40 arenas and 5 game modes, in addition to copious amounts of late 90s nostalgia.

Sign up for a free account at the official site. Read more »

id co-founder John Carmack says that his company is currently developing a Quake III port for the iPhone, that may incorporate some of the changes made in the upcoming browser form of the title, Quake Live.

"We have Quake III up and running on the iPhone," said Carmack to MTV. "It needs a new redesign of the render to make it fast enough to be really good playing on the iPhone." Read more »

Quake Live---id Software's free web-based version of Quake III multiplayer--will finally open to the public next week, with an open beta for the shooter launching Tuesday, February 24.

Those hoping to play merely need to visit quakelive.com on or after that date.

The launch of the open beta will be accompanied by a full stat wipe. Closed beta participants that haven't played in the past 28 days will lose their accounts as well. Read more »

A new full-featured Quake Arena title will probably not be developed if Quake Live is not successful, according to comments made by id Software's John Carmack today.

"The door is not completely shut for another Quake project, and I'd say probably the success of Quake Live is going to determine whether or not we do another Quake Arena project," said Carmack.

"But right now the publishers aren't all that interested in a multiplayer project on there."

id Software's John Carmack today said that Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory will likely not be revived as a free-to-play, advertising supported web title in the fashion of Quake Live.

"If Quake Live is successful, the next thing that we might look at is Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory," said Carmack, "but it's hard to see how we'd do the same treatment of it."

Wolfenstein's World War II setting was cited as the main reason behind the company's hesitation. Read more »

Though Quake Zero--id Software's free online version of Quake III--was announced at QuakeCon 2007, the name was subsequently changed to Quake Live with no explanation.

id co-founder John Carmack today revealed that the change of the name was due to an enterprising domain name squatter. Read more »

QuakeCon 2008 officially ramps up this Thursday in Dallas, Texas. Shacknews will be representin' at the big show, with Nick and Steve checking out such titles as id Software's Rage, the browser-based shooter Quake Live, Raven Software's Wolfenstein and others.

In addition to the usual round-up of playable games, the exhibition will also host tournaments for Quake Live and both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. Among the prizes are entries into a drawing for a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe, valued at approximately $55,000. Read more »

Following the release of Doom 3, legendary developer id Software shuffled to the background of the gaming industry for a time. Now the company is readying for a resurgence, on several fronts at once.

id is readying two traditional big-budget titles in Doom 4 and Rage, the latter marking the company's first original IP in some time. Founded late last year, id Mobile will be releasing its first project later this year with Wolfenstein RPG, the follow-up to the Doom RPG. Finally, the company is forging new ground in the web-based gaming sector with Quake Live, a free version of Quake III Arena without all the fuss--or the cost. Read more »

Those hoping to relive the glory days of Q3Test are in luck: id Software's web-based Quake 3 throwback Quake Live is now open for beta signups on the official website.

Quake Live will be a free multiplayer FPS accessed through a single web portal--quakelive.com--which will also offer free friends lists, sponsored events, tournaments, and matchmaking services. Read more »

Quake Live, formerly known as

Quake Zero, has found an advertising sponsor. IGA

Worldwide is now signed on to be the exclusive ad broker for id Software's upcoming Read more »

Among its multiple QuakeCon announcements this evening, id Software unveiled its plans to form a second development team whose first project will be an slightly updated version of Quake 3. Titled Quake Zero, the game will be available for free--supported by advertising dollars--and run in a web browser on both PC and Mac. "We appreciate what you guys have done over the years in building the popularity of [Quake 3]," said id CEO Todd Hollenshead. "We also like 'free.'" "We at id are building a second team," he continued. "Our first project is Quake Zero, which means zero cost, zero hassle. You'll be able to play Quake 3 in your web browser for free, supported only by advertising dollars." id will be working with Apple to ensure the game runs ideally on Macs as well as PC. During John Carmack's keynote address, the id co-founder and programming lead noted his preference for "straightforward and elegant" games such as Quake 3 Arena. "Honestly, I sit down and look at Enemy Territory, and I'm a little overwhelmed," he admitted. Check out all news from QuakeCon.