Game Engines
Ongoing coverage on Game Engines.
Latest coverage
Dragon Age's former producer had envisioned a 'Champions Edition' equivalent to Mass Effect's Legendary Edition, but he doesn't think it will happen anymore: 'There are basically no companies that could help you'
Former Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah believes a "Champion's Edition" remaster for the Dragon Age series is unlikely due to technical challenges. Unlike the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which benefited from using the consistent Unreal Engine, the Dragon Age games were built on different, now poorly understood, proprietary engines. Darrah suggests that EA's reluctance to form new teams for such projects further diminishes the possibility of a remaster.
Unity is supplying Netflix Games with a dedicated engine
Unity and Netflix Games have announced a deepened partnership, with Unity providing a dedicated game engine for Netflix's upcoming projects. This engine is already in use by Night School Studio for its new games and has previously powered titles like Black Mirror: Thronglets and Squid Game: Unleashed.
007 First Light Developers Discuss the Glacier Engine in New Behind-the-Scenes Video
IO Interactive released a behind-the-scenes video detailing their proprietary Glacier game engine, used in 007 First Light. The engine, which has roots in Hitman: Codename 47, has undergone significant evolution, with its current modular design emphasizing iteration speed and reusability. The video features insights from senior product manager Andy Touch and technical director Henrik Schlichter.
A Dragon Age Trilogy remaster probably won't happen as no one still employed at BioWare knows how the engine works, claims producer
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah stated that a remaster of the original Dragon Age trilogy is unlikely because current employees lack knowledge of the proprietary Aurora engine used for Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2. Unlike the Mass Effect trilogy, which used Unreal Engine and was successfully remastered, Dragon Age's older engine makes such a project technically challenging and costly for Electronic Arts. Despite these hurdles, Darrah believes a remaster would still sell well.
STALKER 2's Cost of Hope expansion, and its free but still hopeful 2.0 update, get an August release date
GSC Game World has announced that the STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl expansion, Cost of Hope, will be released on August 20th. This premium DLC will launch alongside the free Update 2.0, which upgrades the base game to a newer version of Unreal Engine 5. Update 2.0 aims to improve performance, lighting, and stability issues.
Halo’s PlayStation 5 Debut Is Out Today, Here’s How to Play Early
Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo game, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for players who purchased the Premium Edition, offering early access ahead of its official July 28, 2026 release. This remake features upgraded visuals in Unreal Engine 5, refined controls, split-screen co-op, online multiplayer for up to four players, and includes three new prequel missions.
Game and Mod Development
Unity announced that Unity 7 will launch in Q1 2027, and that this new engine is a direct continuation of Unity 6. The article also touches on what developers can learn from the current generation of game criticism.
Unity demonstrates 'an Unreal character running through a Unity world' for the first time
Unity demonstrated a Unity Engine game running natively within an Unreal Engine game, showcasing a step towards an interconnected gaming ecosystem. This collaboration with Epic Games aims to allow Unity developers to publish their games within Fortnite, with a new integration planned for early access in 2027. The demonstration featured an Unreal character running through a Unity world with synchronized physics, lighting, and input.
Unity 7 to release in 2027, helps devs "ship sharper graphics"
Unity has announced Unity 7, scheduled for release in Q1 2027 following a beta in December 2026. The new version aims to improve development speed with features like faster shader builds and near-instant Play Mode, alongside enhanced graphics capabilities such as dynamic global illumination and neural upscaling. It will also introduce new monetization tools and improved collaboration features for developers.
What sense can we make of the madness at id Software?
id Software, known for Doom and Quake, has laid off 136 employees, over half its workforce, amidst broader industry cuts at Microsoft. Conflicting reports suggest the studio is starting a new Doom game and its id-tech engine remains active, despite fears of it becoming a support studio. The article analyzes the potential reasons behind these drastic layoffs, including project phasing and cost-cutting, while also questioning Microsoft's strategy and the impact on team morale and institutional experience.
"Built for that world doesn't mean built to require it": Unity reveal their next game engine while walking a careful line around generative AI
Unity has announced Unity 7, the next iteration of its game engine, promising smoother project transitions from Unity 6 and a more open approach to collaboration. While incorporating generative AI features, Unity is emphasizing that these are optional. The engine will adopt CoreCLR as its default scripting backend for faster performance and introduce a new global illumination system. Unity 7 is set for an early beta in December 2026 and a full release in early 2027, aiming to rebuild developer trust after past pricing controversies.
Unity 7 to launch in Q1 2027; new engine is a "direct continuation" of Unity 6
Unity announced that Unity 7, a direct continuation of the Unity 6 architecture, will launch in Q1 2027 after a beta in December 2026. The new engine features a modern CoreCLR foundation, advanced rendering tools like real-time global illumination, and a new CLI and public API for easier integration with artists' and developers' preferred tools. Unity 7 emphasizes flexibility, allowing developers to choose whether or not to integrate AI coding agents into their workflows.
Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 fans might dread the return of Creation Engine, but New Vegas lead Josh Sawyer once called it "incredibly easy" to work with, even if it is "buggy and unstable"
New Vegas lead Josh Sawyer described Bethesda's Creation Engine as "incredibly easy" to work with, despite its known issues with bugs and instability. His past comments resurfaced amid fan concerns about the engine's use for The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, suggesting it could facilitate faster development cycles.
Inside San Andreas’ TV Set: A Modder Runs Two Full GTA Games at Once
A modder named DryxioGTA has successfully embedded fully functional versions of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City within a television set inside Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This impressive feat allows players to switch between controlling the protagonists of all three games, with the San Andreas world continuing to run in the background. The mod is available for download, showcasing a unique layering of game engines.
As Bethesda boss Todd Howard praises Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5's "incredible" tech team, fans aren't convinced Creation Engine 3 is a good idea: "Gonna release in an absolute buggy mess"
Bethesda has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 will be developed using the updated Creation Engine 3. While director Todd Howard praised the technology team's capabilities, fans expressed concerns about potential bugs and outdated mechanics like loading screens, citing past issues with Bethesda's engine. The engine's modding potential was noted as a positive by some, while others worried about the impact of recent Xbox layoffs on development.
MXGP 26 Announced for PC, Consoles With October 2026 Release Window
Nacon and Artefacts Studio have announced MXGP 26, set to release in October for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. The game will feature new motorcycle physics, dynamic terrain deformation, and content from the official 2026 motocross season. This entry marks a significant shift as it is the first in the franchise to be developed using Unreal Engine 5.
Doom director Hugo Martin says id Software is fine, and anyway, 'what matters the most is that the games are…
id Software studio director Hugo Martin addressed concerns about the studio's size and capabilities following recent Xbox layoffs. He stated that the studio is currently the same size as it was during the development of Doom 2016 and that the idTech engine remains active, with engineers in both Frankfurt and at MachineGames. Martin also commented that successful games benefit everyone, including those who were let go.
Bethesda reassures fans The Elder Scrolls 6 is "on the way" following the Xbox cuts, and that it's "loving how it looks" and "playing it every day"
Bethesda Game Studios has reassured fans that The Elder Scrolls 6 is actively in development and progressing as planned, despite recent Xbox layoffs. The studio confirmed that the majority of its team is focused on the next installment, which will utilize the Creation Engine 3. Bethesda also announced a closer partnership with Zenimax Online Studios for the franchise and revealed plans for Fallout 5.
Doom: The Dark Ages lead says claims that id Software has been "gutted" by layoffs are "not true," and its engine team is "very much alive and well"
id Software co-studio director Hugo Martin addressed reports of significant layoffs, stating that claims of the studio being "gutted" are untrue. He confirmed that the studio's size is comparable to when Doom (2016) was made and that the id Tech engine team is active, with engineers in both Germany and at MachineGames. Martin emphasized that Doom: The Dark Ages is progressing well and that the studio is focused on celebrating the success of their games.
Microsoft Says Id Tech Is Safe, Former Staffers Say They’ve Fired Everyone Who Could Save It
Microsoft is facing scrutiny following significant layoffs at id Software, with former employees expressing concern that the studio's proprietary id Tech engine may be discontinued. While Microsoft maintains that id Software has sufficient staff and is committed to id Tech, reports suggest that key personnel responsible for the engine's development were among those let go. This situation raises questions about the future of the engine, which is known for its optimization in first-person shooters, and the broader implications of industry reliance on engines like Unreal Engine 5.