All Square Enix Titles after FFXIII to use Unreal Engine 3.0!

[Masq]

http://pc.ign.com/articles/758/758364p1.html

January 25, 2007 - In the videogame equivalent of Angelina Jolie hooking up with Brad Pitt, Final Fantasy developer Square Enix will use Epic's Unreal Engine 3 for future next-gen and PC titles. Final Fantasy XIII, exclusive to PS3, is to be the last game to utilize Square's White Engine exclusively.

In an effort to ensure top-quality in its next-gen games, Square Enix is building a "combined technology platform." In a press release issued this morning, Square noted the new platform would be used "throughout the company, utilizing proprietary technologies as well as third-party solutions such as Unreal Engine 3."

Taku Murata, general manager, research and development division at Square Enix, expanded on Square's decision to use Unreal Engine 3. "The complexity of next-generation game systems featuring HD graphics and multi-core parallel processing poses a number of technological challenges to our game development," Murata said. "However, we can expedite our game development process significantly while allowing extra time and resources to be spent on game design and mechanics by establishing an effective technology platform... I'm excited to be partnering with Epic Games in such an important area."

"We're extremely excited to be working with Square Enix," said Epic Games' vice president, Jay Wilbur. "Square Enix is one of the biggest and most influential companies in the worldwide game business, and having them work with Unreal Engine 3 is a major honor for us and something we're very proud to be announcing."

No specific titles were mentioned in the press release, but it is likely the first Square Enix title to utilize the Unreal Engine would come no earlier than 2008.

I can't believe it! It will be amazing to see what they do with the engine.

[Bad_Boy]

Where does it say "all"?
The white engine still exists according to that PR.

Um where does it say all their titles? All they are announcing is that they licensed the engine and will combine it with their own technology, its not just the Unreal Engine so I can actually see it being better considering they already create some of the best proprietary engines in the industry.

[Masq]

Alright, maybe not ALL of them. Just got really excited to see it. IMO, less time designing engines = more time to make an amazing game. Speaking of, where is the next FF MMO at? I remember seeing screenshots of it a looooong time ago.

[Hex]

Way to read what you want into something.
GG

[H3avyM3tal]

Errm, it says that FF13 would be the last game to use SE's own engine...
Not so hard to do the math there I would think.
And besides, any reason NOT to think they will use the UE3 for all of their next games... Try not to think to hard will ya...

[Lyme]

The reasons for doing this are obvious.
-Writing a new game engine for each platform is expensive.
-Porting your game engine to each platform is also expensive.
-A new platform includes the work going from the PS2 to PS3.
-Hitching your horse to a single platform, has the potential of really hurting your bottom line if the platform doesn't do well.
-The Unreal3 engine has more flexibility to it than simply first person shooters.

So from Square-Enix's point of view it gives them lower development costs for the engine (which they can still tailor), and enables them to release on multiple systems if they so desire (which is good for their wallet).
As long as the Unreal3 engine does basicly everything they want, it is a no-brainer decision.