| Developer(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment Research & Development |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 3.00 / March 2011 |
| Type | Middleware |
| Website | research.scee.net |
PhyreEngine (also known as Phyre Engine) is a free to use, cross platform (PC, PSP, PS Vita and PS3) game engine from Sony Computer Entertainment. By 2011 PhyreEngine had been adopted by dozens of game studios "to power almost fifty"[1] games for the PlayStationStore or on Blu-ray Discs.[2]
PhyreEngine is distributed as an installable package that includes both full source code and PC Windows tools, provided under its own flexible use license that allows any PS3 game developer, publisher or Tools & Middleware company to create software based partly or fully on PhyreEngine on any platform.
The engine uses sophisticated parallel processing techniques that are optimized for the Synergistic Processor Unit (SPU) of the Cell Broadband Engine of PS3, but can be easily ported to other multi-core architectures.
PhyreEngine supports OpenGL and Direct3D,[3] in addition to the low level PS3 LibGCM library.[4] It also provides fully functional “game templates” as source code, including support for Havok Complete XS, NVIDIA PhysX and Bullet for physics.
PhyreEngine was launched during GDC 2008[3] with new features (including Deferred rendering) being showcased during GDC 2009.[5]
Version 2.40, released in March 2009, included a new “foliage rendering” system that provides tools and technology to render ultra-realistic trees and plants to be easily integrated into games.[6]
A PSP version of the engine was announced by Sony at GDC 2010.[6]
Version 3.0, released in 2011, has a new and powerful asset pipeline, combining enhanced versions of the already robust exporters, with a powerful processing tool to generate optimized assets for each platform. Also new is the rewritten level editor, which permits a far more data-driven approach to authoring games using PhyreEngine. Combined with a more accessible API and far more game-oriented functionality including support for entities, scripting, and integrated physics and navigation components, PhyreEngine 3.0 empowers developers to produce high quality titles with less time and lower costs.[7] In addition, version 3.0 of the PhyreEngine adds support for the PlayStation Vita.[1]
PhyreEngine was a finalist in the European Develop Industry Excellence Awards in 2008[8] (in the "Technical Innovation" category) and 2009[9] (in the "Game Engine" category).
| Game Developer Studio | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Alvion | Malicious | October 27, 2010 (Japan) |
| Big Ant Studios | Rugby League Live | August 27, 2010 (New Zealand) September 2, 2010 (Australia) / November 5, 2010 (Europe) |
| Big Ant Studios | AFL Live | April 21, 2011 (Australia) |
| Biodroid | Replika[10] | under development (Portugal) |
| Boolat Games | Topatoi | July 2, 2009 (Europe) October 15, 2009 (North America) |
| Capybara Games | Critter Crunch[11][12] | October 8, 2009 (North America) November 19, 2009 (Europe) |
| Codemasters | Colin McRae: Dirt | September 11, 2007 (North America) September 14, 2007 (Europe) |
| Codemasters | Race Driver: Grid | May 30, 2008 (Europe) June 3, 2008 (North America) |
| Compile Heart, Idea Factory, Gust Corporation, Nippon Ichi Software, Sega |
Hyperdimension Neptunia | July 29, 2010 (Japan) February 15, 2011 (North America) / March 4, 2011 (Europe) |
| Doublesix Games | Burn Zombie Burn! | March 26, 2009 (North America, Europe) |
| FluffyLogic | Savage Moon | December 24, 2008 (Europe) January 29, 2009 (North America) |
| From Software | Dark Souls[13] | September 22, 2011 (Japan) |
| Game Republic | Catan | December 18, 2008 (Japan) May 12, 2010 (Europe) / June 15, 2010 (North America) |
| Gust Corporation | Atelier Rorona: Alchemist of Arland[14] | June 25, 2009 (Japan) September 28, 2010 (North America) / October 22, 2010 (Europe) |
| Gust Corporation | Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel[14] | January 28, 2010 (Japan) March 15, 2011 (North America) |
| Gust Corporation | Atelier Totori: Alchemist of Arland 2[14] | June 24, 2010 (Japan) |
| Gust Corporation | Atelier Meruru: The Alchemist of Arland 3[14] | June, 2011 (Japan) |
| HandCircus | Okabu | Summer, 2011 |
| Irem | PachiPara DL Hyper Sea Story In Karibu | July 2, 2008 (Japan) |
| Irem | Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 4: Summer Memories | February 24, 2011 (Japan) |
| Nippon Ichi Software, Idea Factory | Trinity Universe | October 1, 2009 (Japan) June 25, 2010 (Europe) / June 29, 2010 (North America) |
| Nippon Ichi Software | Last Rebellion | January 28, 2010 (Japan) February 23, 2010 (North America) / March 26, 2010 (Europe) |
| Nippon Ichi Software | Disgaea 4 | February 24, 2011 (Japan) September 6, 2011 (North America) |
| Sony Computer Entertainment | Gravity Daze | Japan, 2011 |
| Seed Studios | Under Siege[14] | June 2, 2011 (Europe and North America) / August 23, 2011 (Asia) |
| Sidhe Interactive | GripShift | January 4, 2007 (North America) March 23, 2007 (Europe) |
| Sidhe Interactive | Shatter[15][16] | July 23, 2009 |
| thatgamecompany | flOw | February 22, 2007 (North America) March 23, 2007 (Europe) / May 11, 2007 (Japan) |
| thatgamecompany[4] | Flower | February 12, 2009 |
| thatgamecompany | Journey | Spring 2012 |
| VectorCell | Amy | Fall 2011 |