Heretic + Hexen Will get a Shock Re-Launch: How Nightdive Studios Delivered One other Definitive Model of a Basic

The FPS increase 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 reputation since.

Over the previous couple of years, id Software program and Bethesda have partnered with Nightdive Studios to revisit many of those classics with a degree 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 latest restorations of the superb DOOM I + II, Quake II, and most not too long ago System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster, give the sensation of a studio cementing their repute for creating definitive variations of some really iconic video games.

Now they’ve turned their consideration to 2 extra video games which are rooted deeply in id’s wealthy legacy with the re-release of Heretic + Hexen, introduced at QuakeCon 2025 and accessible right this moment throughout quite a lot of platforms, together with Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox PC, with assist for Xbox Play Wherever and with Recreation Go.

Initially launched in 1994 and 1995 respectively, developed by Raven Software program and produced by id Software program, Heretic and Hexen grew to become important items of gaming historical past, particularly throughout the FPS style. By pioneering options resembling a list system, the power to lookup and down, ambient sound results, and lots of others, each video games would obtain important acclaim and, later, a cult-like standing amongst followers of the style. They set themselves aside from the remainder of the style by dabbling with excessive fantasy themes, inserting enchanted staves in our fingers, and letting us battle undead knights and different nefarious beings.

Quick ahead to right this moment, 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 quite a lot 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 assist for community-published mods, native split-screen for as much as 4 or 8 gamers, relying on platform, and on-line crossplay multiplayer assist for as much as 16 gamers. For the gaming historical past buffs, a bunch of behind-the-scenes content material is out there 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 way of: Heretic: Religion Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandier.

To study extra concerning 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 applied, 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 spite of everything these years?

Studio Head Stephen Kick: Revisiting Hexen and Heretic has been each a nostalgic journey and a technical problem in one of the best ways doable. It’s extremely rewarding to offer longtime followers a devoted expertise that performs the way in which they keep in mind it — and to introduce a brand new technology to the arcane magic and brutal problem of those cult classics.

For many who could not have performed them, or maybe even 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 a substitute of shotguns and area 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 could possibly be — mixing the visceral motion of DOOM with the environment and mechanics you’d anticipate from a Dungeons & Dragons marketing campaign. They’re cult classics for a purpose, and revisiting them now presents 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 trendy titles?

Kick: Completely. One of the vital placing issues about Heretic and Hexen is how daring they have been in experimenting with mechanics that have been method 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 statement and reminiscence. It requested gamers to interact with the world, not simply run and gun by way of it.

We’d like to see extra trendy titles embrace that type of design confidence — trusting gamers to get a little bit misplaced, assume critically, and uncover issues by way of 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 historical, cursed, and alive in a method that’s uncommon even right this moment. Extra video games may gain advantage from that type of worldbuilding, the place the setting isn’t only a backdrop however a personality in itself.

So sure, whereas the business has developed in superb methods, there are classes in Heretic and Hexen which are nonetheless extremely related — about artistic risk-taking, environmental storytelling, and treating your viewers with respect.

What are a few of your favourite reminiscences 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 keep in mind about Heretic is the unimaginable field artwork illustration from [legendary fantasy artist] BROM! That picture of Corvus blasting a gap by way of 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 historical weapon meant only for you. Or in Hexen, that second you understand the degrees are all interconnected by way of a hub, and also you’re not simply shifting ahead — you’re circling again, fixing puzzles, and unlocking new paths. It felt revolutionary on the time — and actually, it nonetheless holds up right this moment.

What have been a few of your favourite or notable moments through the growth of those restorations?

Developer Matthew Tropiano: One in all my favourite moments from doing these  was attending to revisit lots of the maps in Heretic and Hexen and seeing what could possibly be improved from the bottom sport. In Hexen, we have been in a position to put collectively a waypoint system of kinds on the automap in order that gamers have an concept of what to do subsequent in case they get misplaced. A number of effort went into making that system a actuality, so hopefully it helps not less than a number of gamers! Planning and growing a brand-new episode for Hexen was additionally a significant spotlight for me. I believe gamers will get pleasure from being challenged by a model new hub with cool new areas and locations to discover.

Developer Jaemen Moore: A refined-up model of Heretic’s authentic maps is one thing I’ve needed to see for ages — type of a extra absolutely realized imaginative and prescient of what the unique builders had in thoughts with their incredible locales (e.g. doubling down on the aquatic/ocean theme for the Dome of D’Sparil episode). I even began a aspect venture a number of years again to make that dream a actuality… after which this venture occurred, and I obtained the possibility to make it for actual. Surreal.

Nightdive Studios’ work on FPS remasters, and sport preservation typically, has been extremely spectacular not too long ago, from Darkish Forces to System Shock and naturally your work throughout DOOM I & II. What are a few of 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 fitting steadiness between what to vary and what to protect. For Heretic + Hexen, we added lots of new textures and graphics to Heretic that helped flesh out its locales, whereas additionally giving the neighborhood extra sources to work with when creating new content material. For Hexen, many of the adjustments centered on gameplay enhancements. Gamers can nonetheless play the unique video games sans adjustments in the event that they need 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, for the reason that adjustments have been obtained very nicely. Fortuitously, 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 people 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 techniques, climate occasions, ambient sound, with the ability to lookup 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 objects at first look and permitting the participant to at all times lookup and down with trendy controls will profit the expertise fairly a bit. Being considerably cryptic was an indicator of mid-’90s gameplay, however lots of that limitation was as a consequence of what I really feel was doable with the expertise and sensibilities that have been prevalent on the time.

Moore: One of many largest additions we made to Hexen is including the power to vary participant characters mid-game (by way of the Hexen Chronicle, a magic tome you’ll find in every foremost hub map). It’s a easy addition, nevertheless it works wonders in observe. Every character performs very otherwise, and now you can play as all three over the course of the sport, fairly than being restricted to only the identical loadout for its entirety.

May you discuss any of the extra high quality of life and accessibility updates you’re bringing right here to those enhanced re-releases?

Tropiano: Positive! We’ve added a contemporary font choice to the sport to make textual content simpler to learn for gamers who’ve issue with the unique pixel font, together with a high-contrast mode for textual content. Gamers even have the power to scale back a few of the extra intense results and colours within the sport.

Moore: The automap waypoint system is price one other shout-out right here. We’ve fastened up a number of of the extra obtuse elements of the extent design, if that fails, the automap is there to convey you again on observe. Or you may change waypoints off by way of menu possibility in the event you’d favor to navigate the old school method.

I perceive there’s going to be an ‘enhanced soundtrack’ right here as nicely. Is that going to be alongside the strains of what we noticed with the soundtrack in DOOM I & II? May you discuss a little bit bit concerning the work that went into creating this enhanced Soundtrack?

Moore: Yup, precisely! Andrew Hulshult is again with a brand-new set of remixes, overlaying each single music observe in each video games. Calling it a “remix” isn’t even actually doing them justice, just like the compositions are insane (the spooky bells at first of Mist, the observe utilized in Heretic’s map The Cathedral, offers me chills each time). From our aspect, the method was to only sit again and let him work his magic, and the outcomes communicate for themselves. Gamers can decide into the unique soundtrack, in fact, however we’ve put the brand new tracks front-and-center ‘trigger they rattling nicely deserve it.

May you share some extra particulars about what the 2 brand-new episodes will probably be, how they took place, and any notable designers in the neighborhood you labored with right here? Have any members of the unique growth workforce assisted right here?

Tropiano: There have been degree designers (together with myself) that needed 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 neighborhood 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 a few of the areas within the new episodes. We stand on the shoulders of giants, in spite of everything!

Moore: The brand new Heretic episode, Religion Renewed, includes a ton of latest textures and even a few new monsters (the Draugr and the Troll) primarily based on unused art work unearthed from the Vault. So, in a method, we did collaborate with the unique Raven artists by way of time. It at all times amazes me how a lot gold there’s to seek out in these outdated dev sources, and I’m psyched we have been in a position to assist convey a few of this unseen artwork again to life.

Why was it necessary so that you can launch these remasters with assist for Neighborhood-Revealed Mods on day one?

Tropiano: Whereas now we have lots of expertise on our aspect for the remasters, there’s loads of expertise on the market for individuals to discover outdoors of our purview. We wish 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 in a position to carry over fairly a number of modding options from DOOM + DOOM II to this venture, 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 might’ve really 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 need to make certain readers take a look at?

Tropiano: For me, lots of the Vault content material I discover attention-grabbing 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 as a consequence of not discovering locations for them, or they have been lower for time, who is aware of? Both method, I believe there will probably be lots of Vault content material that each gamers and the neighborhood discover attention-grabbing.

Moore: It’s at all times a bit shocking what number of “production-quality” belongings find yourself on the reducing room flooring over the course of a sport’s growth cycle (as a consequence of 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 likelihood to not solely launch these belongings by way of the Vault but in addition 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, abruptly should have been an thrilling and daunting prospect. How did your workforce method this problem, and why select QuakeCon to make this occur?

Kick: The Nightdive workforce is at all times up for a problem, and due to our familiarity with the id Tech engine powering each Hexen and Heretic, we have been past ready. This will probably be our fourth shadow drop at QuakeCon, which has turn into an annual occasion for our workforce to return collectively and have a good time one other stellar collaboration with Bethesda and id Software program.

Heretic + Hexen is out there right this moment for Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox PC (as an Xbox Play Wherever title, and accessible with Recreation Go) in addition to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Swap, Steam, GOG, and cloud streaming providers.

Heretic + Hexen

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆
204

★★★★★

$14.99

PC Recreation Go

Xbox Recreation Go

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 revolutionary cult classics launched groundbreaking options like stock techniques, vertical aiming, and distinct character courses, reshaping first particular person motion video games for generations to return. This enhanced restoration makes Heretic + Hexen accessible 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 emblems of the ZeniMax group of firms. All rights reserved. HERETIC and HEXEN are emblems of Activision Publishing, Inc. HERETIC and HEXEN: BEYOND HERETIC © 1994-2020 Raven Software program. All rights reserved.