Square Enix licenses Unreal Engine

Tokyo-based Square Enix today announced that it has signed up Epic's Unreal Engine 3 for use in its future next-generation console, PC, and network releases.

The company has traditionally used its own proprietary technologies, which it adapts for each of its titles. But now, to "ensure both game quality and development efficiency," it will build a new technology platform that will be used companywide and will introduce third-party middleware--including the latest version of the Unreal Engine.

Square Enix's research and development division general manager, Taku Murata, commented, "The complexity of next-generation game systems featuring HD graphics and multicore parallel processing poses a number of technological challenges to our game development. However, we can expedite our game development process significantly while allowing extra time and resources to be spent on game design and mechanics by establishing an effective technology platform."

It is not yet known which Square Enix titles will be using Unreal Engine 3. Square Enix joins a long list of developers using the popular middleware, including Electronic Arts, Midway Games, BioWare, THQ, Gearbox, Silicon Knights, and more.