Using id Software's Quake engine as a starting point, Valve entered the first-person shooter genre guns ablaze with its high-profile debut Half-Life in 1998. Coming full circle, the latest entrant in the Quake franchise, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (currently lorded over by Activision), is now taking part in Valve's tech, the downloadable game service Steam.

　　Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is available for download through Steam beginning October 9 in North America, and a few days earlier on October 5 outside the region. Developed by Splash Damage, the critically well-received shooter is a prequel of sorts to Quake 2. In the game, players are dropped into the middle of a Strogg invasion and can combat (or ally with) the hordes as a member of the Global Defense Force. Players select from one of five characters in online and offline modes. The game is rated T for Teen and can soon be purchased for $49.99 through Steam.

　　Quake Wars joins a host of other id titles on Steam. Shortly after this year's QuakeCon, id made its entire catalog available via the download service.