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Crytek announces new CryEngine

Published on 12th March 2009 by Joe Martin

Crytek's new engine is part of an attempt to focus more on console development, rather than just PC.

Crytek today announced a brand new graphics engine that it has been working on for since the release of Crysis as part of an effort to access more of the console market. The engine is apparently set to be unveiled at the upcoming Game Developer's Conference.

The new engine has been built for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and works with both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 systems and has apparently been designed with scalability in mind. CryTek is hoping that the flexibility of engine will allow it to be used for games of almost any genre and size, on any system.

At the same time though, Crytek also claims that CryEngine 3 is the only engine currently available that can harness the full power of the next generation of gaming. That's not this generation though; Crytek is talking about the next next gen.

"CryENGINE 3 will set the benchmark for complete game engine solutions in performance, and services to game engine licensees and their players," said Crytek's Carl Jones in a press release. "We've been preparing a long time for CryENGINE on consoles and we're confident that Crytek will again amaze developers at GDC."

For now all other details on the system are being kept under lock and key, so we're not sure how mindblowing the potential of the CryEngine 3 will be - but we'll let you know more as soon as we can.

Did you have trouble just getting Crysis running? Gutted that Crytek is focusing more on console development? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

26 Comments

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Bauul 12th March 2009, 11:35

Crytek always position themselves as being the forefront of graphical engines, and whilst CryEngine 2 is very pretty indeed, they didn't exactly manage it whilst keeping it smooth on most computers. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other people in the world who could develop an equally stunning engine as well if they had as little regard for actual consumer hardware as Crytek have.

UrbanMarine 12th March 2009, 11:54

DICE and Rockstar are the only challengers to Crytek. I think it will be hard for someone to out match a company that specializes in large visually stunning open battlefields. Also it's amazing that a young and small company can create such power. They've only made 3 titles and everyone knows their name. I can't wait to see what they create next!!!

acron^ 12th March 2009, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanMarine
DICE and Rockstar are the only challengers to Crytek.

Heard of Epic?

UrbanMarine 12th March 2009, 12:17

Forgot about UT. The Unreal Engine is used heavily but doesn't make me all excited in my pants. I think the IF "Warfare Engine" is a better engine but it's younger.

If we want real world environments, Crytek so far is the answer.

Woodspoon 12th March 2009, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bauul
Crytek always position themselves as being the forefront of graphical engines, and whilst CryEngine 2 is very pretty indeed, they didn't exactly manage it whilst keeping it smooth on most computers. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other people in the world who could develop an equally stunning engine as well if they had as little regard for actual consumer hardware as Crytek have.

Well said

Nictgsf 12th March 2009, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodspoon
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bauul
Crytek always position themselves as being the forefront of graphical engines, and whilst CryEngine 2 is very pretty indeed, they didn't exactly manage it whilst keeping it smooth on most computers. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other people in the world who could develop an equally stunning engine as well if they had as little regard for actual consumer hardware as Crytek have.

Well said

I agree that Crytek may of disregarded current consumer harder in the implementation of CryEngine2, but one thing is for sure, until an engine comes along to push consumer hardware even further I will not have a reason to upgrade from my 8800GTS 512 which plays 90% of games at 1920x1080 at full settings. Nvidia and AMD need new innovations in engines to push their hardware sales. At the end of the day most readers of this site are enthusiasts, Crysis was one of the main reasons I built my current rig, and I'm sure that was the case for a lot of other readers of this website

Nictgsf 12th March 2009, 13:49

wuyanxu 12th March 2009, 13:59

i hope by scale, they mean they will continue to push the boundary on PC while scaling back on consoles.

UrbanMarine 12th March 2009, 14:00

For gamers Crysis is like a playable 3DMark :) It's BTs game of choice IMO for testing out hardware.

@ Wuyanxu: The new engine in theory is going to look like the CryEngine 2 but runs like the Dunia engine.

I just hope their next title gets rid of the Super Suit. I kind of wish they'd do a modern war type game. ex. Snipers could actually be snipers with a open area and lots of hiding spots (no cloak).

Star*Dagger 12th March 2009, 14:10

Give those boys a cigar and a case of french wine!! Awesome.

DbD 12th March 2009, 16:08

What's exciting about the crytek engine is it might allow for better graphics on the PC. The consoles are pretty maxed out - the unreal engine 3 is very efficient on all of them - however modern PC graphics cards are barely used. The problem is other then higher res, and higher quality textures PC versions still use the same standard crossplatform DX9 engine.

If crytek can provide something of UE3 quality for the consoles which has the ability to easily add a whole pile of extra DX10 niceness for the PC then that would be great :)

UrbanMarine 12th March 2009, 16:26

The CE2 engine has been worked out for consoles. It's the Dunia Engine which was built for Far Cry 2 and it uses CryPhysics (no Havok or Ageia). It's new so not many devs have started to use it.

One problem is companies are still living in the DX9 age and that gives people the excuse not to upgrade. If they keep recycling old technology with a new shinny box, gaming will continue to advance slowly. All this fancy hardware and the devs take the easy route.

bogie170 12th March 2009, 16:53

Cry 2 engine was a bit dissapointing. Netcode was awfull. Fingers crossed this will be better!

wuyanxu 12th March 2009, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanMarine

@ Wuyanxu: The new engine in theory is going to look like the CryEngine 2 but runs like the Dunia engine.

i really hope they can make it better and more demanding than CryEngine 2. (yes, i said more demanding)

think about it, by the time next Cry-game comes out, Dx11 would be norm. so still using Dx10 graphics rendering technology and look like CryEngine 2, it will mean they hasn't done any improvement. in fact, if it will look and no more demanding than CryEngine 2, we can safely say the whole point of CryEngine 3 is for the consoles. :(

CryTek should be pushing the boundary, CryEngine 1 was, CryEngine 2 was (it's not a benchmark now, even a £150 GTX260 can play it smoothly) and CryEngine 3 should be.

UrbanMarine 12th March 2009, 17:25

True. i7s will be dime a dozen, 4870x2s will be dated by 5000 series or whatever. Just think 5-10yrs from now this same conversation will come up again too. Crysis 5 is too much of a system hog, the graphics are not that great, Windows 360 uses 6gbs of ram wtf? blah blah.

Solidus 12th March 2009, 18:53

Interesting.

Well im wondering how they could be developing for the next next gen when they havnt even been announced? Who is to say it will run well on the hardward even?

Crysis was good but nothing utterly inspiring as I was lead to beleive.

Multiplayer wasnt great, it was a solid experience (which many shooters cant even manage) but I didnt think too much of it.

I am certainly glad to hear them looking to push the boundaries in the console department too, I hope gears of war improve their unreal engine because right now its beginning to show its age...

boiled_elephant 12th March 2009, 19:00

The Unreal 3 engine is a bit of a funny one, it looks gorgeous and has powered some epic (heh) games, but it doesn't demand much. I can run most U3 games on my old x1900xt rig without much trouble, whereas Oblivion, Crysis and Far Cry 2 all make it weep.
I don't know where the U3 engine scavenges so much versatility from, but Rockstar (who I saw mentioned further up) could learn a lot from it. I'm still absolutely incensed at how clunky, unoptimised and disappointing GTA4 is on PC - and the antialiasing issue is just unforgivable.

UrbanMarine 12th March 2009, 19:07

One thing I hope they continue to add is weapon accessories without restrictions. Single and multiplayer.

cheeriokilla 12th March 2009, 20:35

Hope they don't forget about us pc gamers!

CryENGINE 3 and ID Tech 5 on my most exciting engines list hahahaha

Gunblade 12th March 2009, 23:17

Tech 5 vs. Cry 3 HEAVEN OR HELL, Duel One - Lets Rock!

Looks like they both have the same plan in mind. With iD having the shared game assets being able to be used for PS3, X360, and PC. I like how these new engines always tout that they are next-gen proof and that their engine will grow and be capable for whats next......does this ever happen to be the case? I remember hearing the same thing about many engines.

iwod 13th March 2009, 02:11

I hope CryENGINE will be much more optimize, and versatile.

And Oblivion.... is using GameBryo Engine.... Not Cry as far as i know.

Hamish 13th March 2009, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanMarine
The CE2 engine has been worked out for consoles. It's the Dunia Engine which was built for Far Cry 2 and it uses CryPhysics (no Havok or Ageia). It's new so not many devs have started to use it.

Dunia is (very) loosely based off CryEngine 1, apparently only about 2-3% of the same code
CryEngine 2 is a development of CryEngine 1, they arent really that related

i dont hold much hope for CryEngine 3 tho, making it cross-platform probably means its not going to be as supar awesome as CE2 was :(

Jordan Wise 13th March 2009, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheeriokilla
Hope they don't forget about us pc gamers!

CryENGINE 3 and ID Tech 5 on my most exciting engines list hahahaha

nah, the next source engine, if the one they got now still looks this good 5 years on and runs as smooth as it always has done imagine how good the next one will be

UrbanMarine 13th March 2009, 14:08

Ah crap. Your right. I was thinking CE2 was modified for Dunia but it was the CE1.
Brings back memories of HL and Source having Quake coding in it.

Elton 13th March 2009, 23:21

CE2 actually ran pretty well for what it did, i mean good lord, it even rendered the clouds and such.

Bauul 17th March 2009, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elton
CE2 actually ran pretty well for what it did, i mean good lord, it even rendered the clouds and such.

It stuck a bunch of white fluffy sprites together and claimed they created "volumetric clouds". Raped the GPU in the process but was at least vaguely passable.