Software:Snowdrop (game engine)

From HandWiki
Short description: Proprietary game engine
Snowdrop
Developer(s)
Written inC++
Operating systemWindows
Platform
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.massive.se/project/snowdrop-engine/

Snowdrop is a proprietary game engine created by Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft for use on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, and Luna. It was revealed at E3 2013 with Tom Clancy's The Division, the first game using the engine.[1][2] Snowdrop is one of the primary game engines used by Ubisoft along with Disrupt, Dunia, and Ubisoft Anvil.[3]

History

The engine is coded mainly in C++.[4] Rodrigo Cortes, former brand art director at Massive Entertainment, said that development on the Snowdrop engine started in 2009.[5] Initially it was an engine built for PC and next-gen development to "do things better not bigger".[6] The core of the game engine is powered by a "node-based system" and the engine is a dynamic, interconnected and flexible system where developers can create their assets quickly and interact with them in ways that have never been done before.[7][8] Massive created a lighting and destruction system inspired by film production techniques.[9][10] Features of Snowdrop include advanced physically based rendering (PBR) and a dynamic Global Illumination system.[11][12]

According to the developers, the engine was designed with three pillars: Empowerment, which allows animators, artists and designers to get their work done quicker, Real Time, which allows developers to implement and iterate quickly and Fun, a concept that applies not only to the final product, but to using the engine during development.[13][14] An improved version of the engine was used for Tom Clancy's The Division 2.[15][16]

In February 2016, Massive confirmed that the engine can be used for other Ubisoft games.[17][18][19] According to Martin Hultberg, head of IP at Ubisoft Massive, Snowdrop became available to all Ubisoft studios and not just those working on the Tom Clancy's IP.[20][21] These games include South Park,[22] Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle,[23] and Starlink.[24] In June 2021, Ubisoft confirmed that the engine will be upgraded for Avatar.[25][26] According to senior technical artist Kunal Luthra, thousands of assets can be propagated inside of each frame to create more highly detailed environments. The engine would also support real-time ray tracing as well as improved AI behavior for NPCs.[27][28] Snowdrop will also be used for Star Wars Outlaws,[29][30] and the remake of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell.[31][32]

Features

Features of Snowdrop include:[33]

  • Node-Based Scripting System
  • Realistic Day and Night Change
  • Global Volumetric Lighting
  • Procedural Destruction
  • 'Advanced' Particle System and Visual Effects
  • Dynamic Material Shader
  • Live Stat Tracking

Games using Snowdrop

Year Title
2016 Tom Clancy's The Division
2017 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
South Park
2018 Starlink
2019 Tom Clancy's The Division 2
2022 Rabbids: Party of Legends
Rocksmith+
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
2023 Avatar
The Settlers
The Crew Motorfest
2024 Star Wars Outlaws
XDefiant
TBA Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Remake
Tom Clancy's The Division Heartland

References

  1. ↑ "'The Division' Trailer Highlights Snowdrop Engine". 7 December 2013. https://gamerant.com/the-division-vgx-snowdrop-trailer/. 
  2. ↑ "The Division’s VGX trailer shows off Snowdrop engine". 8 December 2013. https://www.polygon.com/2013/12/8/5189086/the-divisions-vgx-trailer-shows-off-snowdrop-engine. 
  3. ↑ "Why Ubisoft Ditched Unreal in Favor of Its Own Proprietary Tech". 16 September 2017. https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/15/why-ubisoft-ditched-unreal-in-favor-of-its-own-proprietary-tech. 
  4. ↑ "Ubisoft's Open-World Star Wars: Snowdrop Engine Details and Past Games". 8 May 2022. https://gamerant.com/ubisofts-open-world-star-wars-snowdrop-engine-details-games/. 
  5. ↑ "The Division's Snowdrop Engine has been in development for 5 years". 1 April 2014. https://www.videogamer.com/news/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-has-been-in-development-for-5-years/. 
  6. ↑ "The Division: Snowdrop engine designed "to do things better, not bigger," Ubisoft details tech in new blog". 24 March 2014. https://www.vg247.com/the-division-snowdrop-engine-ubisoft-tech-blog. 
  7. ↑ "Here's The Division's amazing game engine in action". 19 March 2014. https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/19/5524924/the-division-video-snowdrop-game-engine. 
  8. ↑ "The Division’s Snowdrop Engine "Capable of Creating Large Range of Varied Universes"". 24 March 2014. https://gamingbolt.com/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-capable-of-creating-large-range-of-varied-universes. 
  9. ↑ "Ubisoft shows off Snowdrop engine with help from Tom Clancy's 'The Division'". 9 December 2013. https://www.engadget.com/2013-12-09-ubisoft-snowdrop.html?_fsig=s0f.gRxD6FhTT7eebX3ZbQ--%7EA. 
  10. ↑ "The Division video shows procedural destruction and lighting in the Snowdrop Engine". 8 December 2013. https://www.pcgamesn.com/division-video-shows-procedural-destruction-and-lighting-snowdrop-engine. 
  11. ↑ "The Division Features PBR, Dynamic GI With Real-Time Bounce Lighting From Completely Dynamic Light Sources". 11 January 2016. https://wccftech.com/the-division-features-pbr-dynamic-gi-realtime-bounce-lighting-completely-dynamic-light-sources/. 
  12. ↑ "The Division Graphics Tech Detailed: PBR, Dynamic GI With Real-Time Bounce Lighting". 13 January 2016. https://gamingbolt.com/the-division-graphics-tech-detailed-pbr-dynamic-gi-with-real-time-bounce-lighting. 
  13. ↑ "The Division's Snowdrop engine makes game development fun". 9 December 2013. https://www.polygon.com/2013/12/9/5192048/the-division-snowdrop-engine. 
  14. ↑ "The Division’s Snowdrop Engine Allows for Dynamic Destruction, Designed for Next-Gen". 9 December 2013. https://gamingbolt.com/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-allows-for-dynamic-destruction-designed-for-next-gen. 
  15. ↑ "The Division 2 announced, will be powered by Snowdrop Engine and will be present at E3 2018". 8 March 2018. https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ubisoft-will-announce-a-new-major-title-later-today-that-will-release-in-2018/. 
  16. ↑ "The Division 2 is currently in the works at Massive Entertainment, more to come at E3 2018". 8 March 2018. https://www.vg247.com/division-2-currently-works-massive-entertainment. 
  17. ↑ "The Division’s Snowdrop Engine May Be Used In Other Ubisoft Titles In The Future". 20 February 2016. https://wccftech.com/divisions-snowdrop-engine-ubisoft-titles-future/. 
  18. ↑ "The Division’s Snowdrop engine could be used in other Ubisoft games like Assassin’s Creed". 20 February 2016. https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-division/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-could-be-used-in-other-ubisoft-games-like-assassins-creed. 
  19. ↑ "Massive Entertainment’s Snowdrop Engine May Be Used In Other Ubisoft Games". 20 February 2016. https://www.dsogaming.com/news/massive-entertainments-snowdrop-engine-may-be-used-in-other-ubisoft-games/. 
  20. ↑ "The Division's Snowdrop engine and Dark Zone design could be used in other Ubi games". 22 February 2016. https://www.vg247.com/the-division-snowdrop-engine-in-other-ubisoft-games. 
  21. ↑ "The Division’s Engine May Be Used In Other Ubisoft Games, Says Developer". 22 February 2016. https://gamingbolt.com/the-divisions-engine-may-be-used-in-other-ubisoft-games-says-developer. 
  22. ↑ "Art Design Deep Dive: Getting official South Park art into The Fractured But Whole". 14 December 2017. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/art-design-deep-dive-getting-official-south-park-art-into-i-the-fractured-but-whole-i-#close-modal. 
  23. ↑ "Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Officially Confirmed; Powered By Snowdrop Engine". 12 June 2017. https://wccftech.com/mario-rabbids-kingdom-battle-officially-confirmed-powered-snowdrop-engine/. 
  24. ↑ "Starlink: Battle for Atlas Gets New Screenshots, Artwork and Details". 12 June 2017. https://www.dualshockers.com/starlink-battle-for-atlas-screenshots-details/. 
  25. ↑ "New Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora trailer details upgrades to Snowdrop engine". 24 June 2021. https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/avatar-game-snowdrop-engine-upgrades/. 
  26. ↑ "Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora tech showcase details improvements made to Snowdrop engine". 25 June 2021. https://www.vg247.com/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-tech-showcase. 
  27. ↑ "Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora Looks Beautifully Alien In New Snowdrop Engine Tech Showcase". 24 June 2021. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-looks-beautifully-alien-in-new-snowdrop-engine-tech-showcase/1100-6493242/. 
  28. ↑ "Ubisoft showcases improvements made to The Division’s engine for its next-gen Avatar game". 25 June 2021. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-showcases-improvements-made-to-the-divisions-engine-for-its-next-gen-avatar-game/. 
  29. ↑ "Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws Open-World Game Debuts At Xbox Showcase". 12 June 2023. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisofts-star-wars-outlaws-open-world-game-debuts-at-xbox-showcase/1100-6515054/. 
  30. ↑ "First 'Star Wars Outlaws' gameplay trailer offers 10 minutes of scoundrel wish fulfillment". 13 June 2023. https://www.engadget.com/first-star-wars-outlaws-gameplay-trailer-offers-10-minutes-of-scoundrel-wish-fulfilment-184921702.html?_fsig=Uo58McTLiMzLnn6cMGH6ow--%7EA. 
  31. ↑ "A Splinter Cell remake is in development at Ubisoft Toronto". 15 December 2021. https://www.polygon.com/22837857/splinter-cell-remake-announcement-ubisoft-toronto-snowdrop. 
  32. ↑ "Ubisoft announces Splinter Cell remake". 15 December 2021. https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-announces-splinter-cell-remake. 
  33. ↑ "Snowdrop Game Engine: What You Need To Know About Ubisoft’s Secret Weapon". 4 July 2023. https://www.gamedesigning.org/engines/snowdrop/. 



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