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 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 gratifying 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 repute for creating definitive variations of some actually 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 now throughout quite a lot of platforms, together with Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox PC, with help for Xbox Play Wherever and with Recreation 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 inside the FPS style. By pioneering options corresponding to a list system, the flexibility 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 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 right now, 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 Historic Gods components 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 means of: 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 wish 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 best ways doable. It’s extremely rewarding to offer longtime followers a trustworthy expertise that performs the best way they keep in mind it — and to introduce a brand new era to the arcane magic and brutal problem of those cult classics.

For individuals 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 completely different identification. As an alternative 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 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 cause, and revisiting them now presents an opportunity to expertise that distinctive mix of magic, menace, and mayhem with a contemporary coat of paint.

Is there something in these video games that you just’d wish to see in fashionable titles?

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

We’d like to see extra fashionable titles embrace that form of design confidence — trusting gamers to get somewhat misplaced, assume critically, and uncover issues by means of exploration as a substitute 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 now. 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 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 wish to revisit these moments with these enhanced re-releases?

Kick: The very first thing I keep in mind about Heretic is the unbelievable field artwork illustration from [legendary fantasy artist] BROM! That picture of Corvus blasting a gap by means 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 all the time 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 notice the degrees are all interconnected by means 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 now.

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

Developer Matthew Tropiano: One in every of my favourite moments from doing these  was attending to revisit a number of the maps in Heretic and Hexen and seeing what may very well be improved from the bottom recreation. In Hexen, we had 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. Plenty of effort went into making that system a actuality, so hopefully it helps no less than a couple of gamers! Planning and growing a brand-new episode for Hexen was additionally a significant spotlight for me. I feel gamers will take pleasure in 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 wished to see for ages — form of a extra totally 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 facet undertaking a couple of years again to make that dream a actuality… after which this undertaking occurred, and I bought the possibility to make it for actual. Surreal.

Nightdive Studios’ work on FPS remasters, and recreation preservation basically, has been extremely spectacular lately, from Darkish Forces to System Shock and naturally your work throughout DOOM I & II. What are a number 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 hanging the suitable steadiness between what to alter and what to protect. For Heretic + Hexen, we added a number 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 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 value taking the time to see if the core gameplay might be improved, because the adjustments had been obtained very properly. Thankfully, that is a type of “have your cake and eat it too” moments — the unique maps and gameplay balancing might be re-enabled through menu choices, so of us also can expertise it because it was again within the day.

The unique video games had been foundational within the FPS style, with included options like stock techniques, climate occasions, ambient sound, having 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 gadgets at first look and permitting the participant to all the time lookup and down with fashionable controls will profit the expertise fairly a bit. Being considerably cryptic was a trademark of mid-’90s gameplay, however a number of that limitation was as a consequence of what I really feel was doable with the expertise and sensibilities that had been prevalent on the time.

Moore: One of many largest additions we made to Hexen is including the flexibility to alter participant characters mid-game (through the Hexen Chronicle, a magic tome you’ll find in every principal hub map). It’s a easy addition, nevertheless it works wonders in apply. Every character performs very in a different way, and now you can play as all three over the course of the sport, reasonably than being restricted to simply 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: Certain! 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 flexibility to scale back a number of the extra intense results and colours within the recreation.

Moore: The automap waypoint system is value one other shout-out right here. We’ve mounted up a couple of of the extra obtuse components of the extent design, if that fails, the automap is there to carry you again on monitor. Or you possibly can change waypoints off through menu choice for those who’d want to navigate the old school method.

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 discuss somewhat 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, overlaying 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 at the start of Mist, the monitor utilized in Heretic’s map The Cathedral, offers me chills each time). From our facet, the method was to simply sit again and let him work his magic, and the outcomes communicate for themselves. Gamers can decide into the unique soundtrack, after all, 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 workforce 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 added graphic work. As for the unique builders — no less than in my case — they “assisted” not directly by inspiring a number of the areas within the new episodes. We stand on the shoulders of giants, in any case!

Moore: The brand new Heretic episode, Religion Renewed, contains 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 method, we did collaborate with the unique Raven artists by means of time. It all the time amazes me how a lot gold there may be to seek out in these previous dev sources, and I’m psyched we had been capable of assist carry a few of this unseen artwork again to life.

Why was it vital so that you can launch these remasters with help for Group-Revealed Mods on day one?

Tropiano: Whereas now we have a number 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 contemporary content material to play!

Moore: It’s additionally value noting that we had been capable of carry over fairly a couple of modding options from DOOM + DOOM II to this undertaking, since Heretic and Hexen are constructed upon the identical engine. Mods are an enormous a part of what has saved 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 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 superb addition for recreation historical past/preservation. Is there something in there that you just had been notably excited to incorporate, or something notable segments that you just need to make sure that readers take a look at?

Tropiano: For me, a number 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 as a consequence of not discovering locations for them, or they had been lower for time, who is aware of? Both method, I feel there will likely be a number of Vault content material that each gamers and the group discover fascinating.

Moore: It’s all the time a bit stunning what number of “production-quality” property find yourself on the chopping room ground over the course of a recreation’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 previous alpha variations of DOOM. I’m tremendous excited that we bought one other probability to not solely launch these property through the Vault but additionally incorporate a lot 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 Change and Cloud, suddenly will need to have been an thrilling and daunting prospect. How did your workforce strategy this problem, and why select QuakeCon to make this occur?

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

Heretic + Hexen is offered right now for Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox PC (as an Xbox Play Wherever title, and accessible with Recreation Move) in addition to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Change, Steam, GOG, and cloud streaming companies.

Heretic + Hexen

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆
204

★★★★★

$14.99

PC Recreation Move

Xbox Recreation Move

Cast by Raven Software program on a modified DOOM engine, Heretic and Hexen had been launched in 1994 and 1995, pushing first individual shooters into daring new territory. These modern cult classics launched groundbreaking options like stock techniques, vertical aiming, and distinct character courses, reshaping first individual 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.

Homeowners 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.