Last month marked a significant milestone as Quake was inducted into the World Videogame Hall of Fame. This recognition has been long awaited, particularly by fans of the series who have often pointed out the disparity of having games like Halo included since 2017 while Quake was overlooked.

As conveyed by Carmack, the hallmark of Quake lies not just in its gameplay but in its broader influence within the gaming community.

“The real legacy of Quake is in the metagame rather than the game itself.”

This iconic game was one of four inductees for 2025, sharing space with other influential titles. Quake revolutionized the gaming scene, setting a precedent for mod support and pushing boundaries in 3D graphics. Carmack expressed pride in the game’s induction, highlighting the collective effort behind its development, which he described as a challenge but ultimately rewarding.

He stated, “Quake was a truly challenging project where we aimed for the same generational leap that Doom achieved over its predecessor, Wolfenstein. We poured our hearts into it, and while it tested our limits, it became something extraordinary.”

Carmack concluded with an insight on Quake’s influence on the next generation of game developers, noting that it spurred innovation and creativity leading to a vibrant modding community. Quake’s technical advancements laid groundwork for future developments in gaming technology.