And, just like that, the Unreal Engine 5 supremacy continues.
As video game development costs rise to astronomical figures and the expectations going along with it, studios are starting to forgo the use of in-house gaming engines to streamline the process, minimize costs, and meet deadlines. Unreal Engine 5, the latest iteration of Epic Games’ highly successful video game engine, has been the go-to choice for many developers this generation, and it looks like Electronic Arts, which typically uses the Frostbite Engine for its games, will join the trend.
This revelation surfaced from a recent job listing on EA’s official website. EA is currently looking for an Audio Software Developer to help EA Motive bring Iron Man to video game life. The listing specified that the candidate would be working with Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant change for Motive Studio.
Historically, EA has extensively used the Frostbite engine, developed by DICE, for many of its games, including Star Wars Squadrons and the recently released Dead Space remake, both from Motive Studio.
The shift to Unreal Engine 5 for Iron Man may also be attributed to some challenges faced by EA developers in the past. Bioware, another EA developer, had a turbulent experience with the Frostbite engine when developing the game Anthem, which featured mechanics and flight systems that could find their place in an Iron Man game. Switching to Unreal Engine 5 might be a calculated move to prevent similar issues.
However, it’s worth noting that this isn’t EA’s first foray into Unreal Engine. Respawn Entertainment, an EA developer, had previously used Unreal Engine 4 for the development of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which was widely praised and sold rather well in spite of its shortcomings.
Besides the engine, not much else is known about the Iron Man game. The game’s production started last February but it’s believed to have been in development since July 2021.
Taking notes from its most successful forays in the Star Wars universe, EA’s Iron Man game will primarily focus on a single-player experience in a large open world, featuring a unique narrative that will draw from Iron Man’s rich history, including Tony Stark’s complexity, charisma, and creative genius.
Despite the revelation about Unreal Engine 5, the Iron Man game appears to be in the early stages of its development. The fact that the team is still recruiting developers suggests that it could be a while before we see the game on the market. This switch signifies a notable shift in EA’s approach and could set a new standard for the company’s future games.
As EA Motive Studio continues to work on the Iron Man project, we can expect to see more news and updates surfacing. At the moment though, it seems they are taking their time to ensure that the game lives up to the legacy of the iconic Marvel superhero.
Whatever the outcome, it’s evident that the decision to utilize Unreal Engine 5 for the game is a significant milestone for EA and could potentially shape the future direction of their game development.
In any case, EA’s Iron Man game will now join the next Mass Effect entry in using Unreal Engine 5. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, which might be out sometime next year, is still using the latest version of the Frostbite Engine.
