Quake Live on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Experience the most exciting and fast-paced FPS gameplay while competing with players from around the world in over 100 arenas, a dozen game modes, and with persistent career stats tracking, in this online features-focused successor to Quake III Arena.
Quake Live is a fps, arena shooter and multiplayer game
developed by id Software
and published by Bethesda Softworks.
Released on September 17th 2014 is available in English only on Windows.
It has received 15,377 reviews of which 13,303 were positive and 2,074 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified Quake Live into these genres:
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7 or later
- Processor: 2 GHz Intel Processor or better
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX or better, ATI Radeon 8500 or better, Intel i915 chipset or better 1024x600 resolution
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 1 GB available space
- Sound Card: Stereo Soundcard
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
It's really not as rough as people want to make it out to be. Just aim and shoot. If you got one of those ultra good players in the game, their reflexes haven't stood the test of time and you (assuming you're young and fertile like me) should be able to make them pie.
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Quake Live is a refined and enduring competitive first-person shooter that pays homage to the legacy of Quake III Arena while updating it for a new generation of players. Originally launched as a browser-based title and later migrating to Steam, Quake Live retains the blisteringly fast-paced gameplay, tight movement mechanics, and lethal precision that made its predecessor a staple of arena shooters. For veterans of the genre, it’s a near-perfect preservation of what made Quake III revolutionary. For newcomers, it's a crash course in a brutally unforgiving—but deeply rewarding—style of multiplayer combat that’s all but vanished in modern shooters. At its core, Quake Live is about movement, map control, and raw skill. There are no loadouts, no leveling systems, and no unlockable weapons—every player starts on an even playing field. The difference lies in how you navigate the map, time item pickups, and win control over key areas. It’s a game that rewards practice and mastery above all else. The rocket jumps, strafe jumps, and circle strafing mechanics are integral to survival and dominance, and the learning curve is steep. But once you internalize these mechanics, the fluidity and speed at which you can move through maps becomes exhilarating. Combat is intense, lightning-fast, and brutally precise. Unlike modern shooters that offer generous aim assists or slower pacing, Quake Live demands twitch reflexes and deep map knowledge. Every shot counts. Weapons are iconic and finely balanced—railguns for long-range precision, rocket launchers for splash damage, lightning guns for sustained duels. Mastery of weapon usage, coupled with smart item timing for health, armor, and powerups, forms the heart of competitive play. There's a constant mental calculation happening in high-level matches, and watching skilled players is like observing high-speed chess played with rocket launchers. The game features a wide range of classic and community-created maps, many of which are meticulously designed for competitive play. Each map offers different dynamics, whether it’s verticality, tight corridors, or wide-open arenas. Modes like Duel, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Clan Arena cater to different styles of play, with Duel standing out as the purest test of one-on-one skill. Matches are often short, intense, and devoid of downtime, making the game highly addictive and mentally demanding. Graphically, Quake Live is no longer cutting-edge, but its clean, readable aesthetic ensures that gameplay clarity always takes priority. The visuals may appear dated by modern standards, but the simplicity serves the competitive focus well—there’s no clutter, no visual noise, just pure, functional design. Sound design is equally crucial; directional audio cues are vital for tracking enemies and reacting to events in real time. The minimalist presentation allows for an experience that never distracts from the action. One of the game’s major strengths is its tight community and the competitive culture that surrounds it. Quake Live has long been a training ground for some of the best FPS players in the world, and its esports history is rich with legendary rivalries and tournaments. However, this elite nature can be a double-edged sword. New players may find the skill gap daunting, especially without modern matchmaking systems to ease them in. The game’s learning curve, while satisfying for those who stick with it, is steep enough to deter casual players who expect more accessibility or progression-based incentives. Over time, Quake Live has aged gracefully in terms of mechanics, but it faces challenges from a shrinking player base and the evolving tastes of the FPS genre. While newer titles prioritize persistent rewards, cosmetics, or expansive lore, Quake Live remains a purist’s dream—stripped down to its competitive essence. This uncompromising focus is admirable, but it also limits its mainstream appeal. It's a game built for people who love the process of getting better, who value mastery for its own sake, and who don't mind a lack of frills. Ultimately, Quake Live is not just a throwback—it’s a living museum of arena FPS design, still functional, still exhilarating, and still capable of producing some of the most intense multiplayer experiences you can find. For players craving a shooter that prioritizes raw skill and moment-to-moment decision-making over loadouts and grinding, there is simply nothing else like it. Whether you’re returning to relive the glory days or discovering the roots of competitive FPS, Quake Live remains a benchmark for how refined and brutally beautiful a shooter can be. Rating: 8/10
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Being multiplayer only is certainly not a thing for everyone, but honestly as a sucker for classic Unreal Tournament style Arena Shooters, I miss these days of multiplayer FPS action that wasn't bogged down by COD Perks, Season Passes, or Activision Blizzard. It's a joy to play if you just need a small niche community to play a few rounds of TDM, FFA, or the classic CTF modes with Please never let this game get shut down.
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Quake 3 Arena with stats, more maps and online modes. The GOAT of death match arena shooters.
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I do love instagib here much more than in Quake Champions because here you have railjump, more settings to adjust the game for yourself and uniformed hitbox (against QC where everybody picks Nyx). There are no abilities as well so in instagib you can test your pure skill. 2024 is almost over and there are some people still active.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quake Live is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam.
Quake Live is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 9.99€ on Steam.
Quake Live received 13,303 positive votes out of a total of 15,377 achieving a rating of 8.45.
😎
Quake Live was developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks.
Quake Live is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Quake Live is not playable on MacOS.
Quake Live is not playable on Linux.
Quake Live offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
Quake Live offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
Quake Live does not currently offer any DLC.
Quake Live is fully integrated with Steam Workshop. Visit Steam Workshop.
Quake Live does not support Steam Remote Play.
Quake Live is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Quake Live.
Data sources
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 02 September 2025 22:20 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 08 September 2025 10:56 |
| Steam price | 14 September 2025 20:44 |
| Steam reviews | 14 September 2025 20:05 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Quake Live, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Quake Live
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Quake Live concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Quake Live compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
297
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
17 Sep 2014
Platforms
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