GDC08: PhyreEngine, Sony's new (free!) cross-platform engine

[komp]

Quietly unveiled at yesterday's PSN session was PhyreEngine, a new "free to use graphics engine" from Sony Computer Entertainment. According to the presentation, the package includes full documentation, "70+ samples" and "full source code and artwork" of sample game templates. Working on both OpenGL and Direct3D, this engine will allow developers to more easily develop for the PS3 by using PC environments they're more familiar with. A "simple recompile" is supposedly all that's needed to make the game run on the PS3. Sony is promising "ongoing development and support" for the PhyreEngine.

The ramifications of this subdued announcement are actually quite significant. Three titles have been revealed to have used the PhyreEngine for development: flOw, GripShift and DiRT. Of those three, only one is exclusive to PlayStation. It appears that the PhyreEngine is truly cross platform -- Sony is indirectly contributing to the development of PC and Xbox 360 games.

But why make it easier to make games on a competing console? Well, it's undeniable that developers are increasingly focused on multiplatform development. It's been rather commonplace for developers to neglect PS3 with inferior and oftentimes delayed versions of multiplatform games. With PhyreEngine, Sony is making a much more attractive plea: make games on PS3 first, guaranteeing high quality games that will not only match their 360 counterparts, but in many cases can exceed them. Sony's message is clear: start games on the PS3, and they will be better for both PS3 and 360 owners. It appears to us that PhyreEngine is a crucial part of that plan.

More details of PhyreEngine will undoubtedly be unveiled later today at a GDC dedicated to what Sony has dubbed "the new hotness." Stay tuned.

[TruBlu2]

Wow, amazing news, developers will have no more excuses in making the PS3 (greatest console ever) the lead platform for development.


I love PS3

[darkpoet25]

Wow this is great news indeed. Now maybe EA will stop complaining about how hard it is to make a game for the PS3.

[komp]

It also over rides the M$ announcement on the XNA studio... Just another thing that has an equal on the other console...

[Slackr89]

Link: http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/2631.html

Sony isn't making too many waves at GDC this year, but they lifted the curtain on something awfully interesting today: PhyreEngine, a brand new - and FREE - graphics engine from Sony Computer Entertainment, designed to give developers an easier time of creating games for the PlayStation 3.

This package includes full documentation, 70+ samples and "full source code and artwork" of sample game templates. It'll work on both OpenGL and Direct3D, and utilizes PC environments that most developers will be more familiar with; a "simple recompile" is all they need to make the game run on the PS3. Sony is attempting to make the process as simple as possible, and they have promised "ongoing development and support" for anybody who wants to give PhyreEngine a try. Now, here's the intriguing part- this isn't just for the PS3. Three current titles (flOw, GripShift and DiRT) have used PhyreEngine, and two of them are available on the Xbox 360. Basically, as Joystiq put it, Sony is "indirectly contributing" to the development of games on other platforms.

This may seem counterproductive on the surface, but it's actually a great move by Sony. One of the reasons we've had crappy PS3 ports is just because developers created the game on the Xbox 360, then tried to move it over to the PS3. With PhyreEngine, those same developers can opt to make games for the PS3 first, which should yield titles that have the capability of outstripping their 360 counterparts. Sony is saying to everyone: if you decide to produce your game first for the PS3, using PhyreEngine, both PS3 and 360 owners will benefit because both versions will be better. Nifty move by Sony, yes?

Kudos to Sony for doing this.

[owa]

Hmm, that's pretty interesting. Thanks for the info and link.

[Cameh]

Tis probly the most interesting/important news i've seen here lately =) thankies, spreading the word now.