Heretic + Hexen<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, announced at QuakeCon 2025 and available today across a variety of platforms, including Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, with support for Xbox Play Anywhere and with Game Pass.<\/p>\nOriginally released in 1994 and 1995 respectively, developed by Raven Software and produced by id Software, Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em> became essential pieces of gaming history, especially within the FPS genre. By pioneering features such as an inventory system, the ability to look up and down, ambient sound effects, and many others, both games would achieve critical acclaim and, later, a cult-like status amongst fans of the genre. They set themselves apart from the rest of the genre by dabbling with high fantasy themes, placing enchanted staves in our hands, and letting us battle undead knights and other nefarious beings.<\/p>\nFast forward to today, and the Heretic + Hexen <\/em>enhanced re-release features all that original ingenuity, bolstered by a tremendous number of improvements and new features. First off, performance has been improved, with up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS on supported hardware, plus a variety of texture enhancements. The game also delivers a remixed soundtrack created by Andrew Hulshult (DOOM + DOOM II, DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods parts One and Two, Quake Champions<\/em>), in-game support for community-published mods, local split-screen for up to 4 or 8 players, depending on platform, and online crossplay multiplayer support for up to 16 players. For the gaming history buffs, a bunch of behind-the-scenes content is available for you to explore the development journey of Heretic + Hexen. <\/em>And perhaps best of all, individuals from Nightdive and id Software have collaborated to create two brand-new episodes to play through: Heretic: Faith Renewed<\/em> and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandier<\/em>.<\/p>\nTo learn more about the work Nightdive Studios put into restoring Heretic + Hexen<\/em>, we talked with Studio Head Stephen Kick, and Developers Matthew Tropiano and Jaemen Moore about bringing these classics back to life, what new features they\u2019ve implemented, and what new things they\u2019ve cooked up.<\/p>\nWhat has it been like to revisit these two iconic first-person shooters, Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em>, after all these years?<\/strong><\/p>\nStudio Head Stephen Kick<\/strong>: Revisiting Hexen<\/em> and Heretic<\/em> has been both a nostalgic journey and a technical challenge in the best way possible. It\u2019s incredibly rewarding to give longtime fans a faithful experience that plays the way they remember it \u2014 and to introduce a new generation to the arcane magic and brutal challenge of these cult classics.<\/p>\nFor those who may not have played them, or perhaps even heard of them, can you describe these games?<\/strong><\/p>\nKick: <\/strong>Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em> are dark fantasy first-person shooters originally developed by Raven Software [and published by id Software] in the mid-\u201990s, using the DOOM engine as a foundation \u2014 but they carved out a very different identity. Instead of shotguns and space marines, you\u2019re wielding enchanted staves, throwing fireballs, and battling undead knights, serpent riders, and demonic cults in gothic, otherworldly environments.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tTogether, they helped define what a dark fantasy FPS could be \u2014 blending the visceral action of DOOM<\/em> with the atmosphere and mechanics you\u2019d expect from a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. They\u2019re cult classics for a reason, and revisiting them now offers a chance to experience that unique blend of magic, menace, and mayhem with a fresh coat of paint.<\/p>\nIs there anything in these games that you\u2019d like to see in modern titles?<\/strong><\/p>\nKick<\/strong>: Absolutely. One of the most striking things about Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em> is how bold they were in experimenting with mechanics that were way ahead of their time. Hexen<\/em> especially took real risks: non-linear hub worlds, character classes with unique playstyles, persistent progression between levels, and environmental puzzles that required actual observation and memory. It asked players to engage with the world, not just run and gun through it.<\/p>\nWe\u2019d love to see more modern titles embrace that kind of design confidence \u2014 trusting players to get a little lost, think critically, and discover things through exploration instead of hand-holding. There\u2019s also a certain tone these games nailed: that grim, arcane, almost oppressive atmosphere, where the world feels ancient, cursed, and alive in a way that\u2019s rare even today. More games could benefit from that kind of worldbuilding, where the setting isn\u2019t just a backdrop but a character in itself.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tSo yes, while the industry has evolved in amazing ways, there are lessons in Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em> that are still incredibly relevant \u2014 about creative risk-taking, environmental storytelling, and treating your audience with respect.<\/p>\nWhat are some of your favorite memories from playing the original games, and what was it like to revisit those moments with these enhanced re-releases?<\/strong><\/p>\nKick: <\/strong>The first thing I remember about Heretic<\/em> is the incredible box art illustration from [legendary fantasy artist] BROM! That image of Corvus blasting a hole through a skeletal warrior with an arcane bolt really painted a picture of what was to come. I installed a shareware copy and was immediately impressed by the art direction. The oppressive atmosphere, dark, winding corridors, and gothic architecture all worked seamlessly together to create a foreboding dread I found captivating.<\/p>\nOne moment that always stuck with me was the first time I picked up the Phoenix Rod in Heretic<\/em>. You go from flinging magic projectiles to unleashing this fire-spewing staff that just melts enemies \u2014 and it felt so powerful, like you\u2019d uncovered an ancient weapon meant just for you. Or in Hexen<\/em>, that moment you realize the levels are all interconnected through a hub, and you\u2019re not just moving forward \u2014 you\u2019re circling back, solving puzzles, and unlocking new paths. It felt revolutionary at the time \u2014 and honestly, it still holds up today.<\/p>\nWhat were some of your favorite or notable moments during the development of these restorations?<\/strong><\/p>\nDeveloper Matthew Tropiano<\/strong>: One of my favorite moments from doing these\u00a0 was getting to revisit a lot of the maps in Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em> and seeing what could be improved from the base game. In Hexen<\/em>, we were able to put together a waypoint system of sorts on the automap so that players have an idea of what to do next in case they get lost. A lot of effort went into making that system a reality, so hopefully it helps at least a few players! Planning and developing a brand-new episode for Hexen <\/em>was also a major highlight for me. I think players will enjoy being challenged by a brand new hub with cool new areas and places to explore.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tDeveloper Jaemen Moore<\/strong>: A polished-up version of Heretic<\/em>\u2019s original maps is something I\u2019ve wanted to see for ages \u2014 sort of a more fully realized vision of what the original developers had in mind with their fantastic locales (e.g. doubling down on the aquatic\/ocean theme for the Dome of D\u2019Sparil episode). I even started a side project a few years back to make that dream a reality\u2026 and then this project happened, and I got the chance to make it for real. Surreal.<\/p>\nNightdive Studios\u2019 work on FPS remasters, and game preservation in general, has been incredibly impressive recently, from Dark Forces<\/em> to System Shock<\/em> and of course your work across DOOM I & II<\/em>. What are some of the key learnings you\u2019re taking from those development experiences here to Heretic + Hexen<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\nTropiano<\/strong>: For me, much of what remastering is about is the question of striking the right balance between what to change and what to preserve. For Heretic + Hexen<\/em>, we added a lot of new textures and graphics to Heretic<\/em> that helped flesh out its locales, while also giving the community more resources to work with when creating new content. For Hexen<\/em>, most of the changes focused on gameplay improvements. Players can still play the original games sans changes if they want to, but we feel that what we changed improves the experience of these titles.<\/p>\nMoore<\/strong>: The enhanced re-release of Quake II<\/em> proved that it\u2019s worth taking the time to see if the core gameplay can be improved, since the changes were received very well. Fortunately, this is one of those \u201chave your cake and eat it too\u201d moments \u2014 the original maps and gameplay balancing can be re-enabled via menu options, so folks can also experience it as it was back in the day.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tThe original games were foundational in the FPS genre, with included features like inventory systems, weather events, ambient sound, being able to look up and down, and more. Are you bringing any additional tweaks here to refine those unique features further?<\/strong><\/p>\nTropiano<\/strong>: For the most part, simply elucidating the purpose of the inventory items at first glance and allowing the player to always look up and down with modern controls will benefit the experience quite a bit. Being somewhat cryptic was a hallmark of mid-\u201990s gameplay, but a lot of that limitation was due to what I feel was possible with the technology and sensibilities that were prevalent at the time.<\/p>\nMoore<\/strong>: One of the biggest additions we made to Hexen <\/em>is adding the ability to change player characters mid-game (via the Hexen Chronicle, a magic tome you can find in each main hub map). It\u2019s a simple addition, but it works wonders in practice. Each character plays very differently, and you can now play as all three over the course of the game, rather than being limited to just the same loadout for its entirety.<\/p>\nCould you talk about any of the additional quality of life and accessibility updates you\u2019re bringing here to these enhanced re-releases?<\/strong><\/p>\nTropiano<\/strong>: Sure! We\u2019ve added a modern font option to the game to make text easier to read for players who have difficulty with the original pixel font, along with a high-contrast mode for text. Players also have the ability to reduce some of the more intense effects and colors in the game.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tMoore<\/strong>: The automap waypoint system is worth another shout-out here. We\u2019ve fixed up a few of the more obtuse parts of the level design, if that fails, the automap is there to bring you back on track. Or you can switch waypoints off via menu option if you\u2019d prefer to navigate the old-fashioned way.<\/p>\nI understand there\u2019s going to be an \u2018enhanced soundtrack\u2019 here as well. Is that going to be along the lines of what we saw with the soundtrack in DOOM I & II<\/em>? Could you talk a little bit about the work that went into creating this enhanced Soundtrack?<\/strong><\/p>\nMoore<\/strong>: Yup, exactly! Andrew Hulshult is back with a brand-new set of remixes, covering every single music track in both games. Calling it a \u201cremix\u201d isn\u2019t even really doing them justice, like the compositions are insane (the spooky bells at the beginning of Mist, the track used in Heretic<\/em>\u2019s map The Cathedral, gives me chills every time). From our side, the process was to just sit back and let him work his magic, and the results speak for themselves. Players can opt into the original soundtrack, of course, but we\u2019ve put the new tracks front-and-center \u2018cause they damn well deserve it.<\/p>\nCould you share some more details about what the two brand-new episodes will be, how they came about, and any notable designers in the community you worked with here? Have any members of the original development team assisted here?<\/strong><\/p>\nTropiano<\/strong>: There were level designers (including myself) that wanted to work on something new for Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em>. Kaiser (Sam Villareal) took point on the Heretic <\/em>episode, while I handled the Hexen <\/em>episode. We both enlisted the help of community member Not Jabba, as well as Heretic + Hexen <\/em>lead Xaser Acheron for map design, and artist Arthur Biver for additional graphic work. As for the original developers \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 they \u201cassisted\u201d indirectly by inspiring some of the areas in the new episodes. We stand on the shoulders of giants, after all!<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tMoore<\/strong>: The new Heretic<\/em> episode, Faith Renewed, features a ton of new textures and even a couple of new monsters (the Draugr and the Troll) based on unused artwork unearthed from the Vault. So, in a way, we did collaborate with the original Raven artists through time. It always amazes me how much gold there is to find in these old dev resources, and I\u2019m psyched we were able to help bring some of this unseen art back to life.<\/p>\nWhy was it important for you to launch these remasters with support for Community-Published Mods on day one?<\/strong><\/p>\nTropiano<\/strong>: While we have a lot of talent on our side for the remasters, there\u2019s plenty of talent out there for people to explore outside of our purview. We want as much access to that work as possible, and it helps keep these games alive with fresh content to play!<\/p>\nMoore<\/strong>: It\u2019s also worth noting that we were able to carry over quite a few modding features from DOOM + DOOM II<\/em> to this project, since Heretic<\/em> and Hexen<\/em> are built upon the same engine. Mods are a huge part of what has kept these games alive for decades, and shipping without modding features would not only have been a huge step backwards, but we would\u2019ve actually had to go back and remove features if we didn\u2019t want them to ship.<\/p>\nThe inclusion of behind-the-scenes content is a great addition for game history\/preservation. Is there anything in there that you were particularly excited to include, or anything notable segments that you want to make sure readers check out?<\/strong><\/p>\nTropiano<\/strong>: For me, a lot of the Vault content I find interesting is the concept artwork and the graphics of props and other objects that didn\u2019t make it in the original games. Whether that was due to not finding places for them, or they were cut for time, who knows? Either way, I think there will be a lot of Vault content that both players and the community find interesting.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tMoore<\/strong>: It\u2019s always a bit surprising how many \u201cproduction-quality\u201d assets end up on the cutting room floor over the course of a game\u2019s development cycle (due to changing designs, deadlines, and so forth), and I\u2019ve been fascinated by the concept ever since discovering the old alpha versions of DOOM<\/em>. I\u2019m super excited that we got another chance to not only release these assets via the Vault but also incorporate many of them into both the new Faith Renewed episode and the retextures of the original Heretic levels.<\/p>\nThe shadow-drop across so many platforms, from Xbox to Switch and Cloud, all at once must have been an exciting and daunting prospect. How did your team approach this challenge, and why choose QuakeCon to make this happen?<\/strong><\/p>\nKick<\/strong>: The Nightdive team is always up for a challenge, and thanks to our familiarity with the id Tech engine powering both Hexen<\/em> and Heretic<\/em>, we were beyond prepared. This will be our fourth shadow drop at QuakeCon, which has become an annual event for our team to come together and celebrate another stellar collaboration with Bethesda and id Software.<\/p>\nHeretic + Hexen is available today <\/em>for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC (as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and available with Game Pass) as well as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Steam, GOG, and cloud streaming services.<\/p>\n
![\"Heretic](\"https:\/\/xboxwire.thesourcemediaassets.com\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Heretic-Hexen_03_Heretic-6b3df5c67c3176057f9c-scaled.jpg\")