Damn, it never stops!
Speaking to
C&VG, Epic Games VP Mark Rein revealed that the creators of the Unreal games and technology have already begun work on what would eventually become the Unreal Engine 4. Rein revealed the interesting fact that the fourth iteration of the Unreal tools and technology has indeed been in development for the last two years.
"Unreal Engine 4 will be totally groundbreaking and the way games will be done in the future," said Rein.
"I don't expect it to be staffed up as a full team for several years. But when people come to work at Epic, they can come here with the knowledge that we're always keeping one eye on the future and they're going to be helping to shape the future of the videogame business".
Although no Unreal Engine 3-powered game has yet shipped to store shelves, the next-generation engine is enjoying a big momentum in the development community, with more and more developers and publishers signing every month a deal with Epic Games to license the technology.
Microsoft Game Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment, Vivendi Universal, Midway Games, 10TACLE and Namco are just some of the game companies that have licensed the Unreal Engine 3 tools and technology.
Some of the showcase titles for the Unreal technology are Epic Games’ own projects; Gears of War and
Unreal Tournament 2007. Both Microsoft and Sony have yet to announce the next-generation titles that will make use of the Unreal Engine 3.
Rein also revealed that Epic Games plans to move its headquarters to a new office, which will still be in North Carolina but in a different city. The 30,000 square foot building will open its door this October in the city of Cary. Epic will dedicate 7,500 square feet just to the new in-house motion capture facility.
The new facility is built around productivity and comfort for the Epic Games employee. The new studio will have a gymnasium, a sports field, single-person bathrooms, adjustable heating/cooling per office, audio and high definition video studios and a power generator capable of powering the entire studio.
"Nobody is going to come through the new office and think it's overly extravagant but rather they're going to feel that we've created an environment that is enjoyable to work in and has a little room to grow. Although we've moved only about two miles from where we were we now benefit from being within a very short walk to a number of great stores and restaurants and even a 20-screen movie theatre," Rein explained.
If Gears of War and Unreal Tournament 2007 already look better than anything else we have seen, can you imagine how an Unreal Engine 4 powered game will look like?