Game Engines
Ongoing coverage on Game Engines.
Latest coverage
The Garry's Mod 'successor' is, tragically, more Roblox than anything else
S&box, developed by Facepunch Studios as a spiritual successor to Garry's Mod, is criticized for prioritizing a Roblox-like platform model over the creative freedom of its predecessor. While showcasing potential with various game genres built on a modified Source 2 engine, its current state suffers from jankiness and a business model involving paid cosmetics, leading to disappointment for those expecting a true Garry's Mod 2 experience.
Starfield devs faced "a lot of pressure" to use Unreal Engine 5, former Bethesda artist says, but the Creation…
A former Bethesda artist revealed that Starfield developers faced significant internal pressure to switch to Unreal Engine 5. However, the studio ultimately decided to stick with its proprietary Creation Engine due to its extensive modding capabilities and community support. Bethesda has incorporated some Unreal Engine workflows into its development process and will use Creation Engine 3 for The Elder Scrolls VI.
Enhancing Game “Visuals” and “Ease of Creation” Major Update Ver. 2.4 Released
SmileBoom Co.Ltd. has released major update Ver. 2.4 for its game creation tool, RPG Developer Bakin. This update introduces enhanced visual features like shadow maps and new functions to streamline event creation, improving development efficiency. The company also announced future plans for Live2D support and is currently holding a "SmileBoom Golden Week Sale 2026" with discounts on the base game and DLC.
Alien Isolation 2 uses Unreal Engine 5 instead of Creative Assembly's custom engine, and fans are starting to worry: "This completely ruins any enthusiasm I have for the game"
Concerns have been raised among fans regarding the sequel to Alien: Isolation, reportedly being developed by Creative Assembly using Unreal Engine 5 instead of the studio's custom engine. This change has led to worries about potential shifts in atmosphere, tension, and game stability, with some fans expressing a complete loss of enthusiasm.
Mass Effect: Andromeda actor says the game "was done dirty" by EA and "a very toxic atmosphere" online
Mass Effect: Andromeda voice actor Tom Taylorson stated that the game was "done dirty" by Electronic Arts due to publisher expectations and being released before it was fully developed. He also cited issues with the Frostbite engine and a "very toxic atmosphere" online contributing to the game's poor reception and the cancellation of future plans for the Andromeda series.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced 'delivers a no-compromise experience with advanced ray tracing performance' on PS5 Pro, along with the latest PSSR 2 tech
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced will feature advanced ray tracing and Sony's PSSR 2 AI upscaling technology on PlayStation 5 Pro, delivering a no-compromise visual experience. Developed using the latest Anvil engine, the game aims for improved graphics and performance across all modes on both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro.
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.
