Halo 4 isn't running on a brand new Game Engine! - Report

Microsoft and 343's latest Halo outing, the beautifully named '4' and the release of HD Halo 1 (Anniversary) are not the start of an annual release schedule for the series. Nor does 4 use entirely new tech according to Microsoft Games Studios VP Phil Spencer.

Spencer explains that, "People shouldn't look at Anniversary as part of an annualized franchise.

"I love the fact we're doing the Anniversary edition because I loved Halo 1. We just looked at it and thought it needed to be refreshed. It wasn't part of us trying to get into an annualized rhythm with the franchise. It will be done in time for this holiday that is the 10th Anniversary for Halo. It felt like a good time to celebrate it."

In terms of the engine underlying '4, which was, announced at E3 2011, Mr Spencer states that, " 343 obviously has partnered closely with Bungie for a while...

"...We started with the code base from Halo, so it's not something we had to re-roll from the beginning... The technology base isn't 100 percent new, but a ton of work has gone into it by 343."

Source: IGN

um wheres the link to this? all I'm seeing is you saying they said this...you can find many videos and you could point us to the time mark in said videos even...

finally posted a link thank you.

So, in other words, their annualizing Halo.

Why would they need a new engine anyway. Isn't the game supposed to run on the same hardware as the others did?

The Reach engine is awesome, way better than Halo 2-3 which I think used the same engine.

boooooooo

You'd never know it but I'm a pretty big fan of Halo :P and is much as I like Halo 4 being confirmed, I sure do wish MS decided to make it the #1 launch game for their next console, now that would have me smiling ear to ear. :D

Eh, as it is, I'm about as equally pumped for the Halo CER.

Why would they need a new engine anyway. Isn't the game supposed to run on the same hardware as the others did?

edidili

Because the Reach engine still doesn't look good.

The Reach engine is awesome, way better than Halo 2-3 which I think used the same engine.

TheEpicGoat

[QUOTE="TheEpicGoat"]

The Reach engine is awesome, way better than Halo 2-3 which I think used the same engine.

Animal-Mother

[QUOTE="TheEpicGoat"]

The Reach engine is awesome, way better than Halo 2-3 which I think used the same engine.

Animal-Mother

Still not enough detail. Textures look a little washed out. Everything just looks like they overexposed it to light to hide some of the bad textures.

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"][QUOTE="TheEpicGoat"]

The Reach engine is awesome, way better than Halo 2-3 which I think used the same engine.

SaltyMeatballs

I hope this is a joke.

[QUOTE="edidili"]

Why would they need a new engine anyway. Isn't the game supposed to run on the same hardware as the others did?

Phoenix534

Because the Reach engine still doesn't look good.

The new engine will not do wonders anyway. It's the same hardware, they just have to polish the existing engine.

The Reach engine is awesome, way better than Halo 2-3 which I think used the same engine.

TheEpicGoat

[QUOTE="Phoenix534"]

[QUOTE="edidili"]

Why would they need a new engine anyway. Isn't the game supposed to run on the same hardware as the others did?

edidili

Because the Reach engine still doesn't look good.

The new engine will not do wonders anyway. It's the same hardware, they just have to polish the existing engine.

If they can get the Reach engine to push out better textures and fix some of the more subtle but noticeable lighting issues, I'd be all for that.

[QUOTE="Phoenix534"]

[QUOTE="edidili"]

Why would they need a new engine anyway. Isn't the game supposed to run on the same hardware as the others did?

edidili

Because the Reach engine still doesn't look good.

The new engine will not do wonders anyway. It's the same hardware, they just have to polish the existing engine.

[QUOTE="SaltyMeatballs"][QUOTE="Animal-Mother"] The reach engine looks great but all that ghosting makes me nauseous Animal-Mother

It's practically night and day.

Digital foundry - Ghosting on the view weapon was a big problem in the multiplayer beta. Bungie has fixed this in the final game, apparently by dynamically switching it off when it's likely to unduly affect overall image quality.

why would they? the goal here is to make money and you don't do that making a new engine.

[QUOTE="edidili"]

[QUOTE="Phoenix534"]

Because the Reach engine still doesn't look good.

soapandbubbles

The new engine will not do wonders anyway. It's the same hardware, they just have to polish the existing engine.

Dice made the new Engine for the PC. Big difference there. There is no point in starting an engine from scratch for the same hardware.

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"][QUOTE="SaltyMeatballs"] Ghosting was bad in the Beta, they mostly fixed it in the final version. I like the engine though, not the prettiest but it lets them do what they want to do. Also it has been optimised for Forge so they should continue using it.SaltyMeatballs

It's practically night and day.

Digital foundry

[QUOTE="soapandbubbles"][QUOTE="edidili"]

The new engine will not do wonders anyway. It's the same hardware, they just have to polish the existing engine.

edidili

Dice made the new Engine for the PC. Big difference there. There is no point in starting an engine from scratch for the same hardware.

Especially when that hardware is a year or two from being replaced.

[QUOTE="edidili"]

[QUOTE="soapandbubbles"] Think Battlefield 3..and new engine can open up new possibilities for an overall better game. Regardless of the hardware...new tricks/shortcuts can be achieved if a new engine allows it. Phoenix534

Dice made the new Engine for the PC. Big difference there. There is no point in starting an engine from scratch for the same hardware.

Especially when that hardware is a year or two from being replaced.

[QUOTE="SaltyMeatballs"]

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"] Yeah I wasn't in the beta so I couldn't compare, but it was pretty terrible. At first I thought it was my TV :PMrSelf-Destruct

It's practically night and day.

Digital foundry

Ghosting on the view weapon was a big problem in the multiplayer beta. Bungie has fixed this in the final game, apparently by dynamically switching it off when it's likely to unduly affect overall image quality.

But it looks like the same game/version, everything is exactly the same in the images except the ghosting.

Reach engine done its job and done it well so this is no biggie.

so they are sticking with their halo 2 engine i see, makes sense really as this gen is coming to a close. i still want to see a good amount of improvement over halo reach because that isnt really a technical marvel so to speak.

Reach's engine didn't impress me though :|

Halo 4 doesn't just need a new engine; It needs a new Xbox.

I personally think they should of waited for the new platform to start a new trilogy in Halo. They should of stuck to remakes and side stories.

So the game engine is 100% completely new? But they said a "TON" of work has gone into it. So it be an upgrade of Halo 3 to Reach at least. Sounds good to me anyway.

well this basically confirms that I will not be getting this ... I hate the H3 and Reach engine with a passion. I wanted a new direction in the structure of the game.

like

so they are sticking with their halo 2 engine i see, makes sense really as this gen is coming to a close. i still want to see a good amount of improvement over halo reach because that isnt really a technical marvel so to speak.

ghostwarrior786

And so Halo turns into COD..-_-Heil68

I haven't bought a halo game since 3 (yet odst and reach have floated into my collection), I don't know how people can't be burnt out on the series by now.

The bulk of the singleplayer is always either

1.attack entrenched position of enemies/enemies that are replenished by dropships

or

2.defend entrenched position against enemies/enemies that are replenished by dropships.

All they said that it wasn't 100% new....

It can still be 99% new, you know...

They're not starting an annual release cycle. They're continuing it.

Halo 4 doesn't just need a new engine; It needs a new Xbox.

I personally think they should of waited for the new platform to start a new trilogy in Halo. They should of stuck to remakes and side stories.

Blue-Sky

This x10000

Would it be a bad idea to anticipate a megaton at next years e3 for halo 4 being a showcase for the next xbox?

Make it happen Microsoft

They made a new engine for Reach, you would be CRAZY to make a new engine for every couple of games!

Can they achieve 720p?MFDOOM1983

No.Not if their g buffer set up is the same as in Reach(very likely).

They made a new engine for Reach, you would be CRAZY to make a new engine for every couple of games!

Daytona_178

No they didn't.Bungie made it,and it wasn't new.Its updated engine of Halo 1 :)

They're not starting an annual release cycle. They're continuing it.

lx_theo

Want to know what two games use the "Same engine"?

Quake 3:

Call of Duty: MW3

With a modular and flexible engine, being based on something "old" means nothing.