New CryEngine vid shows next-gen vision

By Richard Leadbetter Published 15 October, 2009

Digital Foundry analyses high-def version.

CryTek has completed development of its new CryEngine 3 middleware and released a new trailer demonstrating its vision for the engine's next-generation capabilities, along with new footage highlighting performance on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

From what we can see, the "Next Gen" elements of the trailer appear to be about the scalability of the new engine and are most probably derived from the technology running on a supremely powerful PC.

The forest scene, for example, is hugely oversampled, but the lighting quality is absolutely phenomenal. The later scenes retain the high quality and showcase high resolution shadow-mapping and absolutely no "pop-up" whatsoever.

After concentrating on console performance in its CryEngine 3 presentations, elements of this trailer come across almost like a love letter to CryTek's dedicated PC fanbase, who've been left to wonder exactly what visual goodies the new engine will bring to their hardware in the future.

CryTek's new video showcase reveals how the engine can scale into the next generation while still supporting PS3 and Xbox 360

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 elements of the trailer are new material based on the assets seen in CryTek's previous GDC showcase. There are no direct shot-for-shot comparisons between the two consoles, but it is clear that there are differences between the two implementations, with the lighting model appearing to be different between the two consoles.

Overall performance seems to be close to the firm's initial GDC video, based on shots taken from the same areas. For example, during the Xbox 360 procedural destruction and physics section, we see that the frame-rate hovers around 20FPS, just as it did in CryTek's previous materials. Both versions of the engine appear to be running at native 720p with no anti-aliasing.

One thing that does look different is the implementation of v-sync. In the GDC trailer it appeared that the PS3 version was triple-buffered with v-sync, while the Xbox 360 engine had some screen-tearing. In this new video, v-sync is clearly disengaged on the PS3 "Rich Interiors" clip. All of this is important as, by CryTek's admission, the engine is now complete. This is the tech that will be powering 2010's Crysis 2, coming to both PC and console.

There's much to be excited about with CryEngine 3, whether you're a developer or a gamer. Unreal Engine 3 technology has dominated the current generation of gaming, particularly in the first- and third-person shooting genres, and this is something new and compelling that introduces a wealth of new graphical possibilities.

For the game-makers, the so-called Live Create "what you see is what you play" editor, showcased in the trailer, should make the process of cross-platform development that much easier. Changes made engine-side are duplicated on both consoles, in real-time. Not only that, but the scalability elements of CryEngine 3 make it simpler for developers to write for the current generation today, while maintaining an easy path for supporting the forthcoming console platforms.

"With CryEngine 3 we are releasing the best development solution available today and tomorrow," says CryTek CEO/President Cevat Yerli. "With its scalable graphics and computation it is Next Gen ready and with new features like CryEngine 3 Live Create the best choice for game developers and companies developing serious games applications alike. It is the only game engine solution that enables real-time development."

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • Xerx3s #1 2 years ago

    Looks awesome. Hopefully will this and the rage engine somewhat destroy the monopoly that the UE3 has.

  • freakzilla #2 2 years ago

    This will hopefully compete against UE4, being a PS3 owner I'm sick of that damn thing (UE3). And the fact that Epic and MS have such a close relationship means UE4 will most likely run best on MS platforms (if the hardware power was same between the competing platforms).

    And hopefully tech 5 and RAD can provide some much needed variety.
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/09 @ 15:19

  • PearOfAnguish #3 2 years ago

    Very pretty. It would be nice if CryTek could make a game that wasn't set in a jungle, though. How about the urban jungle, guys, let us use a super-suit to jump around on buildings in a big open city.

  • bad09 #4 2 years ago

    Wow, that looks awesome! Forgive my ignorance as I've been in consoleland a while but I take it this is the engine for Crysis 2 then?

    Damn! I've only just built a nice little PC to play Crysis 1 at a high level, I'm not even on ultra high yet!

    / start saving, curses his coming back to PC gaming, thinks of excuses for the Mrs..

  • hiddenranbir #5 2 years ago

    And so they've completely abandoned the CE2? Great.

  • cianchristopher #6 2 years ago

    Yeah, but Unreal Engine 3 has powered some of the best games of the past few years. Batman AA, Mass Effect 1&2, Gears of War 1&2, BioShock 1&2, Rainbow Six Vegas 1&2 and the upcoming Borderlands... That's some achievement for one engine!

    I'm doubtful that this can overturn that much market-share, but any competition is better than no competition....

  • Keivz #7 2 years ago

    The console bits did seem choppy. 20 fps? *shudders* Hopefully they can get it higher than that.

  • Geordiemp #8 2 years ago

    Thank god, please no more UE3.

  • StooMonster #9 2 years ago

    Ooohh... something new to test my PC's metal :)

    Looks pretty good on the consoles too, but as others have said 20fps sounds worrying.

  • des #10 2 years ago

    Next gen vision on current gen outdated consoles...lol
    Crytek vaporware in the making...if you want to pimp your engine then release a game,game has to be good,has to sell millions and then maybe people will license your engine,tech demos are totally outdated stuff,only pixel counters care about that.
    And Mirrors Edge is an UE3 game,probably the best looking console game,on PC it looks simply amazing...amazing

    The real problem is that it will have to fight against UE4 not UE3 and UE4 won't have to be compatible with last gen consoles.

  • evaluna #11 2 years ago

    What's with all the UE3 hate? As Cianchristopher mentioned, some of the best (and best looking) games of recent years use it.

  • RunningMan #12 2 years ago

    Please now release crysis and crysis warhead for the consoles!

  • ChaK #13 2 years ago

    @des : actually crysis and warhead ARE game. Not only showcasing cryEngine 2 power, and actual game, with a cool gameplay.

    Those two games are REALLY worth the play. Stop saying crystek only make engine, their games are great.

    And i've no doupt crysis 2 will be awesome, just like far cry and crysis were

  • bodypopper #14 2 years ago

    Who cares about the graphs if the game is just going to be another 'roam around a pretty island/engine showcase killing people and blowing stuff up' affair?
    Hopefully some dev somewhere has a more original application for the tech.

  • Retroid #15 2 years ago

    Competition has been sorely needed in the graphics-engine field for the last few years, especially for console games. Unreal Engine has provided some stunners but this looks on par / exceeding the capabilities of that software in parts!

    All this means neither of them can rest on their laurels and we should see some stunning tech in the years to come, even from current-gen harware. :)

  • local_celebrity #16 2 years ago

    Advanced character animation.

    * Man blinks unrealistically *
    * Woman runs woodenly *

    They do good shrubbery though. I'll give them that.

  • IneptPercy #17 2 years ago

    This is where the longer console generations will start to show, grahically crysis 2 will be a different game on PC vs the consoles and this gap will keep growing.

    I am just hoping that nothing is gimped in the PC version to accomodate the consoles.

  • schnide #18 2 years ago

    Next Gen Ready? WOW!

    ...

    ...

    What does that mean again?

  • peak_performance #19 2 years ago

    In this case, the real next generation.

    Or current generation PC hardware. Take your pick.

    Amazing video, though it doesn't show off global illumination as much as I'd want to. That's an amazing feature.

  • steviepunk #20 2 years ago

    I don't understand the hate for the UE3 engine either.
    Sure, it get's used a lot, but that is only because it is a very good engine.
    the thing that people need to remember though is that the engine is just another tool for development, it's still up to the developer themselves to make the game stand out and shine - I think Borderlands is the perfect example of just how different games can look in UE3 when the developers make the effort.

  • GamerG #21 2 years ago

    LOL @ People looking at the streaming video and judging frame rate from it

  • davisorle #22 2 years ago

    I cant hide it. Im a graphics whore myself and a sucker for great visuals. I guess this will be a reason to upgrade before UE3 then? we shall see but the thing is I also have to admit this thing looks awesome and as much as UE3 will show the difference again between PCs and consoles cause if they are next-gen ready as claimed way too many features and capabilities wont be applied on the consoles even though I dont doupt they will look stunning as well. Just will show sooner the fact that graphically they will start showing poor as those new graphic engines are getting to good use.

    I will enjoy them myself on the console though till I decide to upgrate since both ATI and Nvidia are gonna come out very soon with new lines of their beasts. Aka Fermi from Nvidia. Simply amazing upgrades.

  • DaemonSpawn #23 2 years ago

    I'm fan of Crytek and their technology, but have to admit that they have no chance in current generation's competition with UE3. All developers either released at least one game for X360/PS3 or are in the final development stage for such. Many released more than one title. It means everyone had either licensed some engine (e.g. UE3) or developed one in house. People are used to these licensed or in-house engines and trained with them - it's stupid and very expensive (in time and money) to change at the end of console cycle. Nobody will do that.

    CryEngine's chance is to become internal engine for EA's titles, but even this is questionable - DICE has Frostbite, Visceral has some Dead Space/Godfather tech, Criterion has its own tech for sure, EA Sports will use theirs like forever (nobody cares for football sims' graphics anyway), guys behind The Sims/Spore will definitely won't use demanding high-end solution for their causal "games" and so on. Maybe just MoH developers, but I don't know if they still exist.

    2 donnie080208
    A good point but why cant console gamers have 60fps and great graphics. COD4MW has some of the best multi plat visuals this gen yet retains its 60fps gameplay And yet CoD4 runs in 640p or something like that - with AWFUL jaggies and not quite the best textures on my 1080p TV. So of course "60fps" is never free, and picture quality have to be sacrificed. The question is do this game really requires 60 frames per second or just needs shorter response time? For some games and/or genres I readily except 30 fps (say DreamFall).

  • photoboy #24 2 years ago

    Very impressive, hopefully a company that can make a fun game will make something with it. Sorry to be so bitchy but the only fun part of Crysis 2 was knocking buildings down. It had all the same old problems of Far Cry, with enemies being able to see you from miles away through foliage and wimpy weapons that didn't feel like they were doing anything.

  • DaemonSpawn #25 2 years ago

    2 farticusmaximus
    The burnout engine takes memory shortcuts by using streaming technology which limits it's application in other genres

    Criterion created one of the best looking shooters on PS2/Xbox with their engine - Black. Yeah, destruction was scripted, but looked cool and ran on extremely weak hardware. Optimisation and clever design can create beautiful things. But you're right - it's highly unlikely GTA4 could be built on Criterion's current gen engine at all, or retain 60fps at least.

    2 photoboy
    wimpy weapons that didn't feel like they were doing anything.
    If by "Crysis 2" you mean Crysis and Crysis Warhead, then I don't agree - both games were great, not just looked fantastic (and fantastic they look!). As for the weapons - try gauss rifle in Crysis - it's the best gauss rifle I ever touched in videogame! (well, maybe the one if Fallout 2 was better - but just because of "spagetti with ketchup" sound and sadistic comments on enemy damage) Just shoot from it for christ's sake! SCAR rifle is nothing spectacular, but good nonetheless.
    Edited by 3 at 15/10/09 @ 16:58

  • Sulphur #26 2 years ago

    Nice article, Richard. Would've appreciated more detail on perceived differences - what kinds of changes are we talking about when you say the lighting model's different in the PS3 version?

    Of course, I appreciate we can't do a fair comparison here given those are all completely different PC/PS3/X360 scenes, but a more technical breakdown in the video like the other tech commentaries would be nice.
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/09 @ 18:57

  • mkreku #27 2 years ago

    I wonder.. The team at Crytek are obviously very talented, but are they able to utilize the PS3's SPU's properly? They ought to be the ones managing it, if anyone.

  • Sulphur #28 2 years ago

    Well there was the GC presentation where Cevat Yerli said "I would argue nobody's running on PS3 as good as we do, I can put my hand on fire on this, nobody." Video link.

    I'd suppose they're rather proud of that then.

    He even goes so far as to say that the PS3 version's the one running at the top end, which I'd take with a grain of salt if he's including the PC in that comparison. The plan is still to get both console versions just about the same, at the end of the day.

  • Buran #29 2 years ago

    @farticusmaximus:

    You can play at 60 fps x 1080p in good loking games as GT 5 (P), Wip3Out HD Fury and Ridge Racer 7. Or you can simply buy a good graphic card (5850 is around 220 €;) and obtain superb graphics and 120 fps in a lot of games.

    @aemonSpawn:

    Crytek isn't aiming to displace UE3 in popularity this gen, but to do the same thing that Epic in the next gen launching a more flexible and powerfull middleware soon enought. The main reason of the vast UE3 adoptation was that Epic engine was ready in 2006, when most developers did to confront the choice of start a own engine from 0 or hire the Epic license.
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/09 @ 20:13

  • ukgamer #30 2 years ago

    I highly doubt CE3 is going to run better on PS3. Let us remind ourselves that Crytek is a PC dev and the 360 tech is closest to a PC. Also, there's been a few cases when multiplat devs boasted the PS3 version as being superior when it actually wasn't (ghostbusters anyone?). They are just saying that so shrewd PS3 owners won't be discouraged from buying Crysis 2 for fear of it being a crappy port like most multiplat games.

    No multiplat dev will ever get more out of the PS3 than Sony's own first party studios.

  • TRUTH #31 2 years ago

    When I see something like Crisis in all it's glory running without major cuts on PS3/360 then I'll believe what this engine is capable offor consoles. Any demo can show a lot...with all processing power focused on a short demo afor it's capabilities rather then a full game that uses alot more graphic techs, ai, area, interactive environments etc; and then all need to run smoothly - a tech demo is will always look better but the game will using the engine will never live up to the demo.

  • Loghorn #32 2 years ago

    Sweet! This will most likely change the graphics in gaming a lot.

    I hope they also ditch UE3.
    Edited by 2 at 15/10/09 @ 22:45

  • davisorle #33 2 years ago

    First of I dont get why the hate for UE3. If it wasnt for it way too many of the best looking games out in this gen would have never existed in their current state. So wtf is up with that? And just like CryEngine3 is basically aiming for nextgen even more than the current one also Epic has been working on UE4 for a long while now and that will be based on the next gen hardware ( GPUs ). So also I dont see a point being against Epic when we havent seen even if their next engine will be or not any better or by how far. Since when was there wars other than consoles also with Graphics engines? What happened to the gamers and instead of being supportive for those that do something for gaming are instead craptalking? :S

  • Geordiemp #34 2 years ago

    Problem is some people actually think the graphics are good and cant see the flat bumpmap graphics of UEIII. Look how many people 'think' Gears has good graphics...

    I think it looks like B&W cardboard cut outs (nice bitmaps), if we constantly point it out maybe developers will switch to better engines and we get still the good games, ideas but nicer looking - win win except for EPIC games ...

  • womble #35 2 years ago

    "What's with all the UE3 hate? As Cianchristopher mentioned, some of the best (and best looking) games of recent years use it."

    I think it's mostly from PS3 fanboys who've seen sub-par UE3-based ports for their console.

    The hate is completely unjustified. Any engine that can produce results as diverse as Gears of War, Bioshock and Mirror's Edge has a lot going for it.

  • altitude2k #36 2 years ago

    @ Womble

    Don't forget Shadow Complex.

  • busboy33 #37 2 years ago

    @geordiemp:

    "Problem is some people actually think the graphics are good and cant see the flat bumpmap graphics of UEIII. Look how many people 'think' Gears has good graphics... I think it looks like B&W cardboard cut outs (nice bitmaps)"

    That's what makes the InterTubes great -- everybody is allowed to have their own opinion, and it's perfectly valid.

    For example, I think you are a complete idiot. Or a bald-faced liar. Or suffering from cognitive issues, like a claw hammer wedged inside your cranium. And I can just post those opinions in the great big tubes, where it's just as valid as your nonsense.

    It's a great time to be alive, I tell you.

  • funkateer #38 2 years ago

    @farticusmaximus
    "My preference would be ALL games locked at 60fps with no tearing, mandated by the console manufacturer."

    I see your point and I generally agree, but OTOH there should be some room for exceptions. Some games benefit more from 30fps and more detailed visuals than 60fps for example.

  • Gay-Lord-Perry #39 2 years ago

    hmmm

    I want to see what it would look like running at 60 fps

  • bemaniac #40 2 years ago

    Well glad I'm single so I can blow my wad of cash inside my pc rather than my man wad inside my Mrs.

  • Nephirion #41 2 years ago

    How about making an engine that looks amazing runs at a smooth 60 fps at a high resolution but doesn't require a google server with 8 gfx cards attached to it to stand a chance?

  • showler #42 2 years ago

    anyone hazard a guess as to what the specs of the PC would be for the next gen viewings?

  • showler #43 2 years ago

    poop

  • kongzi #44 2 years ago

    yes wow... CE2 was also pushed as a middleware solution but I don't think any developer actually picked it up and made something with it. They should've been able to announce at least 3 games using CE3, but I haven't heard anything about that.

  • matt6666 #45 2 years ago

    Looks super good * 10..

  • Nebula #46 2 years ago

    "showler wrote: anyone hazard a guess as to what the specs of the PC would be for the next gen viewings?"

    Probably higher than Crysis. Say 7900GT/8600GTS or x1800xt/HD2600pro with a Core2Duo 1.6GHz and 2GB RAM for lowest settings or console settings. And then all the way up to 5xxx/GTX4xx DX11 GPU with Quad cores for highest settings.
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/10 @ 18:01