Does starfield use Unreal Engine 5?

Does Starfield Use Unreal Engine 5?

Bethesda Game Studios’ upcoming sci-fi role-playing game, Starfield, has been making headlines in the gaming world for quite some time now. As we anxiously await its release, many questions have been raised about the game’s development, one of them being about the engine used to power it. Will Starfield use Unreal Engine 5, the latest iteration of the popular game engine developed by Epic Games? Let’s dive into the details and find out.

Direct Answer: No, Starfield Does Not Use Unreal Engine 5

In a public statement released in November 2021, Todd Howard, one of the game’s directors, officially confirmed that Starfield will not use Unreal Engine 5. Howard stated that Bethesda Game Studios will use their own proprietary game engine, Creation Engine, to power the game. The Creation Engine is the same engine used in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, which are also developed by Bethesda.

Why the Choice of Engine Matters

So, why does the choice of engine matter? An engine can significantly impact the look and feel of a game, as well as its performance and overall gameplay experience. Here are some key reasons why the choice of engine is important:

  • Visual Fidelity: An engine can render graphics with varying levels of detail, lighting, and animation, which can create a massive difference in the visual fidelity of a game.
  • Performance: An engine can affect the game’s framerate, graphics quality, and overall performance, which can impact the player’s experience.
  • Portability: An engine can determine how easily a game can be ported to different platforms, such as PC, consoles, or mobile devices.
  • Development Time and Cost: An engine can streamline or complicate the development process, affecting the time and cost of creating a game.

What is Unreal Engine 5?

For those who may be unfamiliar, Unreal Engine 5 is a newer game engine developed by Epic Games, the same company behind the Fortnite battle royale game. Unreal Engine 5 is a significant improvement over its predecessors, offering:

  • Visual Fidelity: Unreal Engine 5 boasts improved graphics capabilities, including global illumination, advanced physics-based rendering, and dynamic lighting.
  • Performance: Unreal Engine 5 is designed to be more efficient, with features like real-time rendering, leading to improved gameplay performance.
  • Portability: Unreal Engine 5 is highly portable, allowing developers to deploy their games across various platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices.
  • Development Time and Cost: Unreal Engine 5 is designed to be more developer-friendly, with tools like Node.js-based scripting and a revamped physics engine, which can streamline the development process.

Why Did Bethesda Choose Creation Engine?

So, why did Bethesda opt to stick with their proprietary Creation Engine instead of Unreal Engine 5? Here are some possible reasons:

  • Familiarity: Bethesda has been using the Creation Engine for many years, and their team is well-versed in its capabilities and limitations.
  • Customization: The Creation Engine can be heavily customized to fit the specific needs of each game, which allows Bethesda to create a unique experience for their players.
  • Cost: Using a proprietary engine like Creation Engine can be more cost-effective than licensing a third-party engine like Unreal Engine 5.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Starfield will not use Unreal Engine 5, but instead will leverage Bethesda’s proprietary Creation Engine. While Unreal Engine 5 offers many impressive features, Bethesda has decided to stick with their tried-and-true engine, which has served them well in the past. The choice of engine can significantly impact a game’s development, and in this case, Bethesda has opted for a path that aligns with their vision and goals for Starfield.

Table: Comparison of Unreal Engine 5 and Creation Engine

Feature Unreal Engine 5 Creation Engine
Visual Fidelity Global illumination, advanced physics-based rendering, dynamic lighting Customizable rendering, limited by Creation Engine’s capabilities
Performance Real-time rendering, efficient rendering Optimized for specific games, limited by Creation Engine’s architecture
Portability Highly portable, deployable on multiple platforms Limited portability, requires modification for different platforms
Development Time and Cost Streamlined development, reduced time and cost Customizable, requires more development time and cost

Key Takeaways:

  • Starfield will use Bethesda’s proprietary Creation Engine, not Unreal Engine 5.
  • The choice of engine can significantly impact a game’s development, visual fidelity, performance, and portability.
  • Unreal Engine 5 offers advanced features like global illumination and real-time rendering, but may not be the best fit for every game.
  • Creation Engine has its own strengths, including customization and cost-effectiveness, which make it a good choice for Bethesda’s needs.

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