Vivendi keeps it Unreal
For next-gen games.
Vivendi Universal has done a deal with Epic Games to license the Unreal Engine 3 for its next-gen console and PC games.
The French publisher's development studios, both internal and external, will use the engine to create a series of as yet unnamed titles launching in 2006.
"Unreal Engine 3 technology will enable us to create exceptional high quality next-gen titles in a productive and cost effective fashion," said VU's Peter Della Penna.
Mark Rein, VP of Epic Games, added: "VU has an incredible line-up of development teams that we know are going to benefit from working with Unreal Engine 3."
VU joins an long list of publishers who've already signed up to license Unreal 3, including Microsoft Game Studios, Midway and Namco, which is currently using the engine to create Frame City Killer, a futuristic action adventure game for Xbox 360.
And it won't be long before we start hearing about PS3 titles based around the engine, too - at E3 in May, Epic revealed that it plans to offer Unreal 3 technology "under Sony Computer Entertainment's Tools and Middleware program for PlayStation 3 as soon as the license program is started." We'll keep you posted.