What Engine Does CD Projekt Red Use?
CD Projekt Red, the developer of popular games such as The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, uses a proprietary game engine called REDengine. The engine was first developed by the company in 2011 and has been used in the development of all their major titles since then.
Why REDengine?
In an interview, CD Projekt Red’s technical director, Michal Król, explained that the decision to develop their own game engine was made to ensure that they had full control over the development process and to better align their engine with their creative vision.
Key Features of REDengine
Some of the key features of REDengine include:
- Real-time rendering: REDengine is capable of rendering high-quality, detailed graphics in real-time, allowing for fast and seamless gameplay.
- Dynamic lighting: The engine features advanced dynamic lighting capabilities, which allow for realistic and immersive lighting effects.
- Physics-based rendering: REDengine uses advanced physics-based rendering techniques to create realistic, detailed environments and characters.
- Large-scale environments: The engine is capable of handling large-scale environments, allowing CD Projekt Red to create vast and immersive game worlds.
Transition to Unreal Engine 5
In 2022, CD Projekt Red announced that they would be transitioning from their proprietary REDengine to Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 for future game development. This decision was made to take advantage of the advanced features and tools offered by Unreal Engine 5, including improved rendering, physics, and lighting capabilities.
Why Unreal Engine 5?
CD Projekt Red cited several reasons for choosing Unreal Engine 5, including:
- Improved graphics capabilities: Unreal Engine 5 offers advanced graphics capabilities, including improved rendering, lighting, and physics, which will allow CD Projekt Red to create even more detailed and immersive game worlds.
- Large-scale community support: Unreal Engine 5 has a large and active community of developers and creators, which will provide CD Projekt Red with access to a wealth of knowledge and resources.
- Cross-platform compatibility: Unreal Engine 5 allows for easy development across multiple platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices.
System Requirements for Unreal Engine 5
To run Unreal Engine 5, CD Projekt Red recommends the following system requirements:
- CPU: At least 6 cores, with a clock speed of at least 3 GHz
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480, with at least 6 GB of VRAM
- RAM: At least 16 GB of RAM
- Operating System: Windows 10 or later, or macOS High Sierra or later
Future of REDengine
Although CD Projekt Red is transitioning to Unreal Engine 5, they have not ruled out the possibility of revisiting and improving REDengine in the future. The company has stated that they will continue to support and maintain REDengine, and may even revisit the engine for future projects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, CD Projekt Red uses a proprietary game engine called REDengine, which has been used in the development of all their major titles. However, the company has announced that they will be transitioning to Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 for future game development. This decision was made to take advantage of the advanced features and tools offered by Unreal Engine 5, including improved rendering, physics, and lighting capabilities.