Game Engines
Ongoing coverage on Game Engines.
Latest coverage
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced doesn’t seem to be Nintendo Switch 2 bound, out 9th July
Ubisoft has announced Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynched, a reimagining of the original game built with the Anvil Engine, set for release on July 9th. The game is not currently slated for the Nintendo Switch 2, though a future release on the platform is hoped for. An overview trailer has been released.
10 Ways Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Differs From Ubisoft's Original Pirate Adventure
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is receiving a remake titled Resynced, which rebuilds the game on the current Ubisoft Anvil engine. This remake introduces significant changes including updated visuals, faster combat with an emphasis on parries, new parkour moves, and the removal of frustrating tailing missions. It also adds new characters and storylines, though it notably omits multiplayer and the Freedom Cry DLC.
Alice creator American McGee says he was inspired by a Valve demo he saw while working on Quake 2
American McGee revealed that a Valve tech demo he saw while working on id Software's Quake 2 inspired his game Alice. He described the demo as a cinematic scene with characters and multiple cameras, which he believes signaled the end of his tenure at id Software. Following his departure from id, McGee went on to develop Alice and its sequel, Alice: Madness Returns.
Escape From Tarkov Arena is free-to-play this weekend, just in time for its new season
Battlestate Games is offering a free-to-play weekend for Escape From Tarkov Arena from April 24-27, 2026, coinciding with the launch of its new Season 2. The update includes a revamped battle pass, weapon rebalancing, and a move to the Unity 6 engine. A 30% discount on the full game is available until May 3.
Portal 2: Community Edition Beta is out now as a playground for modding
Portal 2: Community Edition Beta has been released, offering enhanced modding tools and capabilities for players. This community-maintained version utilizes a modified version of the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive engine, Strata Source, to introduce features like DirectX 11 support, improved lighting, and increased engine limits. The beta is available for users who own the original Portal 2 and supports native Linux.
Fallout: New Vegas designer says don't hold your breath for an Oblivion-style remaster: "I don't think Bethesda has the engineering knowhow"
Fallout: New Vegas designer Chris Avellone expressed doubt about a potential remaster, suggesting Bethesda lacks the engineering capability. He indicated that the absence of source code from Obsidian Entertainment could prevent such a project, though using Unreal Engine or collaboration under Microsoft ownership might offer possibilities.
15 years on, Portal 2 Community Edition just breathed new life into Valve's classic
Portal 2: Community Edition, a fan-made project by 29 developers, has been released, breathing new life into Valve's 2011 puzzle game. This enhanced version utilizes the Strata Source engine, a modified branch of the CS:GO engine, to introduce significant technical and visual upgrades, including physically based rendering, improved lighting, and dynamic shadows. While not a remake of the original campaign, it offers vastly improved tools for custom content creation and is available for free on Steam for owners of Portal 2.
TRX the open source re-implementation of Tomb Raider is making progress on Tomb Raider 3
The open-source re-implementation of Tomb Raider, TRX, is making significant progress on Tomb Raider 3. Version 1.5 introduces enhancements like multi-key shortcuts, improved modding, and bug fixes, while also showcasing early work on Tomb Raider 3 features. TRX offers native Linux support, allowing classic Tomb Raider games to be played on PC with a thriving modding scene.
Evening Patches
A fan remake of the 1999 game Medal of Honor, built using Unreal Engine 4, has been released. The article also mentions official patches for No Man's Sky Xeno Arena 6.32 and the Samson Update #1.
Rust 2 isn't in development, Facepunch boss confirms after suspicious Steam page sparks speculation
Facepunch Studios founder Garry Newman has confirmed that a sequel to their survival game Rust is not currently in development, despite a suspicious Steam page for 'Rust 2' appearing and causing speculation. Newman stated he has no knowledge of the listing and reiterated the studio's past criticisms of Unity's business practices, suggesting a future sequel would not use the engine.
Former Rockstar audio designer says the studio 'probably rebuilt the entirety of the RAGE engine' for GTA 6 — 'I'll be amazed if they didn't because the architecture of technology has advanced significantly since GTA 5'
Former Rockstar audio designer Rob Carr believes Rockstar Games has likely rebuilt its RAGE engine for Grand Theft Auto 6, citing significant technological advancements since Grand Theft Auto 5. He also anticipates that Grand Theft Auto 6 will incorporate mechanics from Red Dead Redemption 2. The game is set to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
Pokemon Champions Bug On Switch 2 Demands You Briefly Undock The System
A peculiar bug is affecting Pokemon Champions on the Switch 2, causing its resolution to be halved in TV mode. The current workaround involves briefly undocking and re-docking the console to restore proper 4K visuals. While the cause is unclear, the Unity game engine used by developer ILCA is suspected.
Torvak the Warrior - GreenSnake releases a Godot PC remake of an Amiga 16bit classic
Independent developer GreenSnake has released a PC remake of the 1990 Amiga hack-and-slash platformer, Torvak the Warrior, built with the Godot engine. This modern version faithfully recreates the original's gameplay mechanics, including the unique "cracking" system for items, while enhancing visuals and audio. The game is available for free, with options to contribute to development and access the source code.
GTA 6 might not feature an entirely rebuilt Rage Engine after all, as one report says it's more of an expansion on what Rockstar used in Red Dead Redemption 2
Reports suggest Grand Theft Auto 6 will utilize an updated version of Rockstar's Rage Engine, expanding on the technology used in Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, rather than a complete rebuild. Rumors about broken save functions have been debunked, with sources confirming the feature is intact.
GTA 6 is taking so long that Rockstar has "probably rebuilt the entirety of the Rage Engine," former GTA 5 and LA Noire dev says: "I'll be amazed if they didn't"
A former Rockstar Games developer, Rob Carr, speculates that the extended development time for Grand Theft Auto 6 is likely due to Rockstar rebuilding its Rage Engine from scratch. Carr, who previously worked on Grand Theft Auto 5 and L.A. Noire, believes this extensive engine work is the primary reason for the long wait for the new title.
GTA 6 Team “Probably Rebuilt the Entire RAGE Engine,” Says Former Rockstar Audio Engineer
Former Rockstar audio engineer Rob Carr speculates that Rockstar Games likely rebuilt the entire RAGE Engine from scratch for Grand Theft Auto 6 due to its extended development cycle. He notes significant advancements in technology since Grand Theft Auto 5, which was released across three console generations. The article also touches on potential mechanics carried over from previous titles and Grand Theft Auto Online.
Counter-Strike 2 gets a Beta with a fancy new animation system
Counter-Strike 2 has received a beta update introducing the Animgraph 2 animation system, which reduces CPU and networking costs. This update includes re-authored third-person animations adjusted based on player feedback and improvements to player height consistency on sloped surfaces. The game also received engine code updates and various gameplay and sound adjustments.
Garry's Mod creator partners with Valve in deal that ensures games made in his sandbox gem's new successor can be sold royalty-free on Steam: "It's just waiting for us now"
Valve and Garry Newman have partnered to allow creations made in S&box, the successor to Garry's Mod, to be sold royalty-free on Steam. This deal ensures creators using the Source 2 engine-based tool will receive full returns, similar to using Unity. S&box is set to launch publicly in April, with some games already listed on Steam.
Facepunch signed a license with Valve to allow standalone releases from s&box
Facepunch Studios has signed a new licensing agreement with Valve that allows users of its Source 2-based game, s&box, to export and release their creations as standalone games on Steam royalty-free. This development, a spiritual successor to Garry's Mod, aims to foster a diverse ecosystem of player-made and independent titles. The company is also working on its own licensing framework for developers and plans to pilot the feature with select individuals.
Red Storm Entertainment Was Working on 10 Games Before Development Team Was Laid Off – Rumor
Ubisoft's Red Storm Entertainment reportedly had 10 games in development before its development team was laid off, with projects ranging from support for live-service titles like Brawlhalla and Rainbow Six Siege to unannounced concepts. The studio has been refocused to support the Snowdrop Engine and serve as a global IT team following the layoffs, which affected 105 employees.
