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

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 21st 2008 at 9:00AM }

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.

Tags: development, gdc08fanboy, phyreengine, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

TripleTags @ Feb 21st 2008 9:20AM

Any news on availability Andrew?

chill @ Feb 21st 2008 9:12AM

Um... I think Dirt was on 360 then ported to PS3, but I could be wrong.

Haiddasalami @ Feb 21st 2008 9:28AM

Nope PS3 to 360.

RazLeboL @ Feb 21st 2008 10:40AM

Are you sure? Dirt did came out on 360 way before the ps3 version.

JaseH @ Feb 21st 2008 10:48AM

Just because a game comes out before the other version, doesn't mean the game didn't start on the latter first.

Dirt was delayed a while longer for the PS3 version, to exceed it further compared to the 360 version.

And the outcome has proved it, the PS3 version DOES run smoother and better than the other.

___________________________________
JaseH.

Nate @ Feb 21st 2008 8:19PM

actually I gotta correct you both. DiRT was first revealed to work on mac. I'm not sure about release dates, but they revealed DiRT first at macworld I believe. Its not ported anywhere, but designed from the beginning as cross platform.

spyker @ Feb 21st 2008 4:12PM

Sure you aren't thinking of the new ID project?

watcher @ Feb 21st 2008 9:17AM

This is great news. I'm glad to see Sony Making the effort to ease development for the PS3. Now developers can focus on creating quality cross platform titles for the PS3 instead of shoddy X360 ports or skipping the PS3 altogether.

Chris Rah Osiris @ Feb 21st 2008 9:20AM

This is great news. I don't want to hear any excuses for poor games anymore.

watcher @ Feb 21st 2008 9:21AM

Dirt came out first for the X360, but it wasn't ported. It was designed from the ground up for the PS3, which is one of the reasons why the PS3 version came out to be better according to many game reviewers.

Haiddasalami @ Feb 21st 2008 9:28AM

For under 1200$, I could make a ps3 game. Wowzers!

russell @ Feb 21st 2008 9:32AM

this isn't going to affect the creation of ps3 exclusive games much because whenever devs get the time, money, resources and knowledge to use the ps3 to it's full potential then there will be a much larger market for ps3 exclusives because they will know that the potential far surpasses that of the x360.

this is good tho, because like he said, it will encourage them to create for ps3 and port to 360.

chill @ Feb 21st 2008 9:55AM

The PS3 version was pretty

Guojian @ Feb 21st 2008 10:10AM

I rather see a game developed for the PS3 only and thus use the PS3 potential to the max. no compromises which probably needs to happen with this PhyreEngine.

THL @ Feb 21st 2008 10:52AM

DiRT was visibily better on PS3 than 360 with sharper lighting, better sound and quicker loading

Scott White @ Feb 21st 2008 10:19AM

So was Dirt on the PS3 any good? I had Motorstorm which I loved at first but over time I grew to hate the physics of the game. I really love Burnout though.

John @ Feb 24th 2008 1:29AM

Oh you hate the physics of Motorstorm but you love Burnout. In other words, you love fake physics over more realistic physics. Why not just post a comment: "Hi! I'm a Tard!"

Haiddasalami @ Feb 21st 2008 12:03PM

Dont know if there is a bloggers breakfast like last year but the one question you should ask is can I make indie games for the PS3 using some sort of XNA API or OPENGL!

Sauvage @ Feb 21st 2008 3:25PM

What they should do is release it to the general public to create free games on the PC, and as part of the licensing agreement, you can't use the engine for commercial games. This then gives developers the ability to proto-type their games etc without allowing it to be used on competing consoles.

PhyreEngine - Helping make Xbox 360 games better.

Sauvage @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:17AM

Andrew, any other news on the PhyreEngine? I thought Sony had a press conference yesterday, but nothing new seems to have come out of it, PhyreEngine or other wise.

John @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:36PM

To tell you the truth, this won't help much. Using a "familiar" PC environment to code PS3 games will definitely eliminate shoddy ports like The Orange Box or Madden '08 (where the 360 version was definitely better), BUT it'll just make PS3 games equal to PC and 360 games, not BETTER. I mean, if they're programming on a virtual PC architecture, programmers can't take advantage of the extra cores and the Cell processor, now, can they? [that's a genuine question, not a rhetorical one]