Frostbite (game engine)

Frostbite

Current logo used since Frostbite 3 (as of 2016)
Developer(s) EA DICE
Written in C++
Platform Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Xbox 360
Xbox One
Type Game engine
License Proprietary
Website www.frostbite.com

Frostbite is a game engine developed by EA DICE, the creators of the Battlefield series. The engine currently is designed for use on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One platforms and is adapted for a range of video game genres. The engine was first used by DICE to create first-person shooters, but it has been expanded to include various other genres such as racing, role playing games and real-time strategy and is employed by a number of EA studios. Thus far, the engine is exclusive to Electronic Arts with all titles being published by EA.

Overview

The toolset comprises three primary components: FrostEd, Backend Services, and Runtime.[1] FrostEd is a desktop program for developers to create Frostbite games in a realtime workflow.[1] Both runtime memory and runtime performance enable code and data systems to deploy content to Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android.

Frostbite logo used from 2013–2016

Frostbite 3 (known as simply Frostbite as of 2015) is the most recent iteration of Frostbite. The workflows and runtimes are highly configurable and cover all aspects of development including audio, animation, cinematics, scripting, artificial intelligence, physics, destruction, rendering, and visual effects. Frostbite 3 introduces new features such as new weathering systems, physically based rendering (PBR) and support for various development techniques (such as photogrammetry). The game engine has had several upgrades including improved tessellation technology. It also features Destruction 4.0, which enhances the in-game destruction over its predecessors.[2]

DICE has not ruled out the feasibility of releasing mod tools for the engine.[3]

Noteworthy achievements of the engine are Battlefield 4's Levolution system, which made it possible to feature wider and more detailed destruction, and yet unnamed systems for FIFA 17 that bring moving corner flags, more detailed spectators and changing weather effects into the game.

Games using Frostbite

DICE used the first generation of the engine for their in-house games Battlefield: Bad Company, Battlefield 1943, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. The Frostbite engine launched with the release of Battlefield: Bad Company; subsequent titles employed an updated version referred to as Frostbite 1.5. Frostbite 1.5 was also used for the multiplayer component of Medal of Honor which DICE developed. (The single-player was developed by another EA studio with Unreal Engine 3). The next generation of the engine, Frostbite 2, debuted with the release of Battlefield 3.[4] The creation of Frostbite 2 started the first usage of the Frostbite engine by other EA studios other than DICE. Some notable Frostbite 2 powered games include Need for Speed: The Run,[5] Medal of Honor: Warfighter,[6] and Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel.[7] The newest version, Frostbite 3 (rebranded as "Frostbite" since 2015), came out with Battlefield 4.[8] It was announced that DICE would be including support for the Mantle API in Frostbite 3, with Battlefield 4 being the first game to implement the low-level toolset through a patch in December 2013. New games using the Frostbite 3 engine are Dragon Age: Inquisition, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour (2015), Need for Speed (2015), Star Wars Battlefront (2015), Battlefield Hardline (2015) Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 (2016), Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016), Battlefield 1 (2016), FIFA 17 (2016), and Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017).

References

  1. 1 2 "This is Frostbite". Frostbite. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  2. ↑ "Battlefield 4: Official Frostbite 3 Feature Video". Electronic Arts. 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-09-26 – via YouTube.
  3. ↑ Fahey, Mike (2010-03-04). "Bad Company 2 Devs Have Nothing But Love For The Modding Community". Kotaku. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  4. ↑ "Battlefield 3 to use DX11, Frostbite 2". GameFront. 2010-08-05. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  5. ↑ "Need for Speed: The Run Announced". IGN. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  6. ↑ "A First Look at Medal of Honor Warfighter". IGN. 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  7. ↑ "Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel launching March 2013". GameSpot. 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  8. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (2013-03-26). "Battlefield 4 confirmed for fall 2013". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-03-27.

External links

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