Creating games is hard. Apart from all the creativity needed to get a project started, the right technology and tools are key in bringing the developer’s vision to life. Remedy has a long and rich history in creating the technology required to display computer graphics, as many of its founders originated from the demoscene. After the release of Alan Wake, the studio developed a range of tools and technologies required to power their next-generation experiences: the Northlight engine, a multi-platform game engine that was first used in Quantum Break. The technology evolved over time and even to this day, Remedy is committed to making sure their technology remains ready for today and the future.
Some studio’s free up these valuable resources by adopting ready-made technology (like the Unreal engine), but not Remedy. And the studio has a good reason why:
“When considering the own technology vs. licensed engine question, it’s tempting to compare some specific aspects of game engines, such as perceived image quality or character animation fidelity. But on a more holistic level, it would be mostly meaningless. In my opinion, what should be considered instead is how well a particular game engine can fit the game development team’s strengths; what is the team size and composition; what is the game vision and its core pillars; what main platforms the game is going to be released on. For example, having our own game engine means we can tailor it to our team’s needs and together define the best practices so that teams and individuals can get everything possible out of the technology available.” said Mika Vehkala, Technology Directory at Remedy.
The studio takes pride in the technologies created and thus is willing to talk more about the tools and the possibilities. It is what makes Remedy’s games stand out from the crowd. To kick things off Remedy created a video in which developers talk about what working with in-house technology means for them, and how Northlight keeps evolving.
