Sweeney: Unreal Engine 4 Will “Exclusively Target the Next Console Generation”
By Chris on Friday, March 14th, 2008 at 12:01 PM PST In Computer, Epic Games, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games Industry, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony
If there is any one individual to talk to about the Unreal Engine at Epic Games, it’d be CEO and co-founder Tim Sweeney. He chatted with TG Daily recently after declaring that “consoles have definitely left PC games behind,” and while much of it covered technical details that’ll make your head spin, there are some things to take away from the interview.
Let’s talk about your game visions for the future and the next Unreal Engine? Where is EPIC going with the Unreal Engine 3.5 and 4.0?
The Unreal engine is really tied to a console cycle. We will continue to improve Unreal Engine 3 and add significant new features through the end of this console cycle. So, it is normal to expect that we will add new stuff in 2011 and 2012. We’re shipping Gears of War now; we’re just showing the next bunch of major tech upgrades such as soft-body physics, destructible environments and crowds. There is a long life ahead for Unreal Engine 3. Version 4 will exclusively target the next console generation, Microsoft’s successor for the Xbox 360, Sony’s successor for the Playstation 3 – and if Nintendo ships a machine with similar hardware specs, then that also. PCs will follow after that.
Sweeney explained that work is underway on Unreal Engine 4, but that the team currently consists only of him, although that number will grow later this year. As that next console generation approaches, the Unreal Engine 3 team will transition over to working on the new engine. But, Sweeney still fully expects that updates will be made to Unreal Engine 3 three to four years from now.
So while Epic hasn’t exactly abandoned PCs, it’s clear that their focus is going to become increasingly console-centric in the coming years.
Im a PC gamer through and through. And I buy my games.
“So while Epic hasn’t exactly abandoned PCs, it’s clear that their focus is going to become increasingly console-centric in the coming years.”
But why shouldn’t they? Thats where the money is. PC games are hacked and cracked, sometimes before they are officially released!
He’s basically saying “we’re going to port our games.” – So there you go pirates. You’re doing it; slowly making PC gaming the last best thing…Going to have to settle with dated technology in a logo…
I too am a avid PC gamer, but blaming it solely on piracy is a cop out. Look at the games that Stardock has made recently. Zero copy protection but still highly successful. Secondly, the console user base is much larger, which means more money. The power of the almighty dollar at work.
I prefer console games over PC games anyway…..so this works for me….
Copaseticbob>
PC games are not the only games that are pirated… Console (XBOX 360 and PS3) games are as well. And not in a small way. There are countless websites geared towards showing people how to play pirated games on there consoles which are filled with thousands of users on each forum. Then take the PC pirate sites and see about 10% of the numbers in those forums and places on the web. So to blame it all on PC? What about the Fact that Epic made a bad game called UT3? It has more bugs and is in no way as fun to play as all the past UT games… not even close. I still have yet to be able to conect to a server in UT3 since day 1 so thats more waisted money on something from epic on the U3 engine. buy lets Not not forget to mention all the rental stores that game dev’s do not see the money from.
Epic
You suck bigtime
Creeps !!!