Providing a major extension to their current testing for their competitive multiplayer shooter, Bethesda Softworks have announced that a large scale testing phase for Quake Champions will be from from Friday 12 May until Sunday 21 May. Unlike earlier testing sessions which have been limited to a smaller audience of players and generally only on weekends, this test will be open for any to register for and shall remain live for the entire period.
To coincide with this public testing phase, Bethesda Softworks have confirmed their NDA will drop on May 12th. Therefore, the entirety of their “Large Scale Tech Test” will be “available for players to stream, capture, and otherwise share and discuss publicly”.
This testing phase will introduce “Sacrifice”, a new 4v4 team-based competitive mode. If you are interested in checking out this and all the other features of this test, register your interest via the game’s official website.
Quake Champions is currently in development by id Software in conjunction with Saber Interactive, for release on the PC sometime in 2017.
Want to know more about some of the Champions you can play as? Keep scrolling down.
Ranger
Ranger digs into his clutch of gory mementos to wield the Dire Orb, seized from the hot innards of the All-Mother at the end of Quake, to teleport (and telefrag) through the Arenas. Ranger’s ‘Son of a Gun’ Passive Ability grants him a 25% reduction in self-damage, allowing him to Rocket Jump with less pain… and enabling more up-close-and-personal, gibby
Starting Statistics:
Starting Health: 100
Starting Armor: 25
Speed: 320
Active Ability – Dire Orb: Ranger battled waves upon waves of Death Knights and Shamblers to get the Dire Orb. It was worth keeping. Now he uses it to teleport around the Arenas, reaching ledges, dodging rockets, and telefragging unsuspecting enemies dumb enough to stand in his way. The Dire Orb also does damage when it hits an enemy and, if left unused, it will explode damaging foes in the immediate area.
Passive Ability – Son of a Gun: Ranger’s a veteran – he’s knows all the tricks of the Arenas. His Son of a Gun passive ability reduces the amount of self-damage he takes by 25%, meaning he can Rocket Jump with less penalty to get the drop on unsuspecting foes.
Galena
Galena was only 4 years old when given as an offering to the Celebrants of Volkerh. Like all children, she watched and imitated. She learned that blood is judgment and penance is sacrament. Now she has grown powerful and grateful.
Starting Statistics:
Starting Health: 100
Starting Armor: 25
Speed: 280
Active Ability – Unholy Totem: In the heat of combat, throw down Galena’s Unholy Totem to heal yourself and your allies, or cause devastating damage to your foes. Deadly in Deathmatch and a critical tool in team games to help control pathways and power-ups, the Unholy Totem is a vital weapon in Galena’s wicked arsenal.
Passive Ability – Channeling: Want to get that totem back even faster? Galena’s Passive Ability – Channeling – allows her to eliminate 5% of her Active Ability cooldown every time she picks up a health bubble. Strike down the unbelievers.
Anarki
Returning from Quake III Arena, followers of the series should recognise Anarki from his days soaring through maps on his hoverboard. Since he still uses his hoverboard in Quake Champions, expect him to be a lot faster than the pack.
Starting Statistics:
Starting Health: 75
Starting Armor: 25
Speed: 320
Active Ability – Health Injection: Taking too much damage? Good thing for you Anarki is well-versed in various performance enhancing … treatments. Use the Health Injection Active Ability to give Anarki a quick heal mid-match. Juice it up, baby!
Passive Ability – Hoverboard Air Control: Anarki’s hoverboard is a brutal bonus. Anarki is already one of the fastest Champions in the game, but the hoverboard means he can actually gain speed as he strafe-jumps around the Arenas, reaching a ludicrous velocity. In addition, his hoverboard awards a special Passive Ability that allows players more control in mid-air to turn sharply and chase down enemies or escape those who dare follow him up a jump pad.
