While much of the games industry is gearing up for Gamescom and Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live in the backend of August, id Software surprised everyone with the shadow drop of the Heretic + Hexen Collection.

The announcement was made via the official Bethesda Slayers Club website and shared across social media, and a launch trailer has been uploaded to YouTube.

“The cult-classic, groundbreaking games are now restored, enhanced and combined into one title for modern platforms!”

id Software has teamed up with Nightdive Studios again to bring fans another re-release, this time including 1994’s Heretic and its 1995 sequel Hexen, both originally developed by Raven Software. The Heretic + Hexen Collection is priced at £13.49 GBP / $14.99 USD and available today on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, in addition to PC platforms and Game Pass (subscription required).

Fans can also enjoy the addition of cross-platform online Co-op and Deathmatch multiplayer support for up to 16 players, two brand-new episodes, community-published mod support, and more. (The Heretic + Hexen Collection supports split-screen multiplayer for up to four players on all platforms, with eight-player split-screen available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.)

What's Included: 

• Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders 
  
• Hexen: Beyond Heretic 
  
• Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel
  
• Heretic: Faith Renewed (New)
  
• Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur (New) 

(Important Note: Existing owners of the digital versions of Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, Hexen: Beyond Heretic and/or Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel on Steam, the Windows Store/Xbox Windows app and Good Old Games receive a free upgrade to the new combined Heretic + Hexen and can still access their previously owned versions on those platforms. (See FAQ below for details.) 

But that’s not all! Fans can also enjoy the Raven Vault, filled with behind-the-scenes materials from the making of the original versions of these classic games. Enjoy both titles with their classic MIDI and FM Synth soundtracks, composed by Kevin Schilder, or switch it up and play with the enhanced (Tome of Power) soundtrack by composer Andrew Hulshult. Play with mods made by other Heretic + Hexen fans, and publish your own for others to try.

Supported in over a dozen languages, including Castilian Spanish, Mexican Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, the Heretic + Hexen Collection also has a plethora of accessibility options.

For all the details on the Heretic + Hexen Collection, including the supported framerates and resolution on each platform, check the Heretic + Hexen Patch Notes article on the Bethesda Slayers Club website.

Did you play the original Heretic and Hexen? Will you be picking up the new collection? Let us know in the comments below.