Quakecon Freebies How To Claim Free Games And Exclusive Content

Dec. 3, 2025, 7:05 a.m.

Tags: quakecon

Introduction

QuakeCon, Bethesda's annual celebration of the iconic Quake franchise, has become a significant event for gamers worldwide, offering not only game updates and announcements but also numerous freebies and promotional offers. The event, which transitioned to an online format in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, continues to provide opportunities for players to expand their gaming libraries without cost. This article examines the various free game offers, in-game content, community challenges, and discounts available during QuakeCon events, focusing on verified information from official sources.

Free Quake Games Offers

The centerpiece of QuakeCon promotions has been the distribution of free Quake titles. During the 25th annual QuakeCon in 2020, Bethesda offered the original Quake game completely free of charge. To claim this title, interested players needed to download the Bethesda Launcher and log in with their account credentials. Once logged in, Quake would automatically appear as "owned" in their game library. This promotion was time-limited, ending at 10 pm ET on the final day of QuakeCon.

In addition to the original Quake, Bethesda implemented a donation-based promotion for Quake II. The company announced that if donations to charitable organizations including Direct Relief, UNICEF, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund reached $10,000, they would make Quake II available for free download. According to official announcements, this goal was successfully surpassed, meaning players could obtain Quake II through the Bethesda Launcher shortly after the event concluded.

For fans of the modern iteration, Quake Champions offered a unique promotion during QuakeCon 2020. Players who downloaded the game for free on Steam and logged in to play at least one match would unlock all champions permanently. This all-access pass to the full roster of characters provided substantial value to new players exploring the title.

The promotional model for these free games follows a straightforward process: download the necessary platform (Bethesda Launcher or Steam), create or log into an account, and claim the offer during the promotional period. No purchase is required, and once claimed, the games remain in the player's library permanently.

In-Game Content and Exclusive Skins

Beyond full game giveaways, QuakeCon has consistently offered exclusive in-game content and cosmetic items. These digital collectibles provide additional value for players and enhance the gaming experience without affecting gameplay balance.

For The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) players, QuakeCon has presented an opportunity to obtain exclusive in-game items. By connecting their ESO account to Twitch and watching official ESO broadcasts during the event, players could receive a unique Flame Atronach Pony mascot and Ouroboros Crown Crates. This cross-promotion between Bethesda's different franchises encourages engagement across multiple titles.

DOOM Eternal players benefited from a limited-time QuakeCon Slayer Skin, along with an exclusive icon and player badge available on all platforms. This cosmetic bundle was available until August 11, providing a window of several days after QuakeCon concluded for players to claim it.

Quake Champions players could also acquire a special Railgun Pistol Skin featuring a QuakeCon 2020 design. This exclusive cosmetic item offered a distinctive visual appearance for one of the game's signature weapons, adding a touch of event-specific flair to players' arsenals.

These in-game items typically follow a redemption process that requires account linking and sometimes watching specific content streams. The items remain in the player's inventory permanently once claimed, serving as commemorative items from the QuakeCon event.

Community Challenges and Giveaways

QuakeCon has expanded beyond simple game giveaways to include community challenges and hardware giveaways, fostering greater engagement among attendees. These promotions often involve both online participation and community-building activities.

During QuakeCon, community members were encouraged to participate in various challenges, such as the "Battle Stations" event where players could showcase their PC setups and gaming setups. These competitions not only highlighted the gaming community's creativity but also provided opportunities for participants to win prizes.

Hardware giveaways have become a staple of recent QuakeCon events. Notably, a Ryzen 7700X processor was offered as a prize in one community challenge, with participants earning channel points toward the giveaway. Additionally, "Freebie Friday" giveaways offered an array of prizes including hats, shirts, gift cards, game codes, PC hardware, and peripherals. These giveaways typically required active participation in the QuakeCon community, often through platforms like Discord.

The community aspect of QuakeCon freebies extends to social media engagement as well. Attendees were encouraged to share their favorite QuakeCon moments and pictures on Discord, creating a shared experience for participants both online and at the physical event location (the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center).

Discounts on Bethesda Games

While free games and exclusive content represent the highlight of QuakeCon promotions, the event also features significant discounts across Bethesda's catalog of games. These sales provide an opportunity for players to expand their libraries at reduced prices, complementing the free offerings.

During QuakeCon 2020, Bethesda announced substantial discounts on several titles: - Fallout 76 – Up to 50% off - DOOM Eternal – Up to 50% off - The Elder Scrolls Online base game – 50% off - The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor – 35% off - The Elder Scrolls Online Crowns – 25-40% off - Wolfenstein Alternate History Bundle – 60% off - RAGE 2 – 80% off

The QuakeCon 2025 sale continued this tradition with markdowns on numerous titles: - Doom + Doom 2 - $3.99 (60% off) - Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus - $5.99 (85% off) - Dishonored Complete Collection - $15.99 (80% off) - Prey - $5.99 (80% off) - The Evil Within 2 - $7.99 (80% off) - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition - $16.49 (67% off) - The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion GOTY Edition Deluxe - $4.99 (75% off) - The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind GOTY Edition - $7.49 (50% off) - Fallout 4 GOTY Edition - $15.99 (60% off) - Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition - $9.99 (50% off) - Fallout 3 GOTY Edition - $6.59 (67% off) - Doom 64 - $1.99 (60% off) - Quake - $3.99 (60% off)

These discounts are typically available across multiple platforms for a limited time during the QuakeCon event, creating urgency for interested buyers. Some retailers like Green Man Gaming also offered additional coupon codes, such as 15% off any PC game with the code AUG15.

Conclusion

QuakeCon has established itself as a premier event for gamers not only through its celebration of the Quake franchise but also through its generous offering of free games, exclusive content, and discounts. The event's promotional strategy combines direct game giveaways, in-game collectibles, community engagement opportunities, and substantial sales on existing titles.

For players interested in claiming these freebies, the process typically involves downloading Bethesda's platforms, creating or logging into accounts, and claiming offers within specified timeframes. The community aspect of QuakeCon adds another dimension to these promotions, fostering engagement through challenges and social interactions.

As QuakeCon continues to evolve, its free offers remain a significant draw for both longtime fans and new players. The combination of free classic games, modern titles, exclusive content, and hardware giveaways creates a comprehensive promotional package that demonstrates Bethesda's commitment to its player base. For gamers looking to expand their libraries without cost, QuakeCon represents an annual opportunity to obtain quality content and participate in a celebration of gaming history.