Unreleased Quake Reboot Concepts Surface via id Software Artist

A former id Software artist has revealed images of what appears to be the long-rumored Quake reboot project that never made it to release. Thao Le, who previously worked on RAGE and DOOM as an environment artist, recently shared screenshots from a shelved project that was abandoned during the development of DOOM 4 and RAGE.

These newly revealed images give fans a rare look at what might have been for the beloved franchise. The timing is particularly interesting as they emerge after the recent release of DOOM: The Dark Ages.

Quake fans have been waiting for a proper sequel since Quake 4 launched in 2005. While DOOM enjoyed a successful revival, the Quake series has only seen remasters of the first two games, leaving many players hungry for something new.

According to Le's own website, the abandoned project featured "old machinery melted into stone," creating a unique visual style. The screenshots show massive gothic structures combined with mechanical elements that clearly carry the distinct Quake aesthetic.

Sharp-eyed fans even noticed a Shambler—one of Quake 1’s most iconic monsters—appearing in one of the images for scale. That clear nod to the original game suggests this project may have been a conceptual reboot rather than a direct sequel.

With DOOM: The Dark Ages now complete, industry watchers speculate that id Software might finally have the bandwidth to revisit other classic franchises.

The screenshots collection also sheds light on DOOM 4: Hell on Earth, a now-shelved vision for the franchise. The visuals depict a war-torn, demonic urban cityscape, crafted within idTech 4 and devoid of modern rendering features like physically based rendering (PBR) or Substance textures. The project was ultimately scrapped after id Software decided the game leaned too heavily on narrative conventions and lacked the fast-paced identity that defined the DOOM franchise.

Le’s resume traces a journey through some of the industry's biggest names. He began at LucasArts in 2001, contributing to Gladius and Starfighter 2, then moved to EA Los Angeles where he worked on Medal of Honor, a cancelled Tiberium project, and a Lord of the Rings game.

Since 2008, he’s been at id Software, contributing to RAGE, DOOM (2016), and Quake Champions. Interestingly, his portfolio doesn’t mention more recent titles like DOOM Eternal or DOOM: The Dark Ages, hinting at a possible shift in roles or focus in recent years.