Snowdrop (game engine) explained

Snowdrop
Programming Language:C++
License:Proprietary

Snowdrop (also known as Ubisoft Snowdrop) is a proprietary game engine created by Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft for use on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, and Luna. It was revealed at E3 2013 with Tom Clancy's The Division, the first game using the engine.[1] [2] [3] [4] Snowdrop is one of the primary game engines used by Ubisoft along with Disrupt, Dunia, and Ubisoft Anvil.[5]

History

The engine is coded mainly in C++.[6] Rodrigo Cortes, former brand art director at Massive Entertainment, said that development on the Snowdrop engine started in 2009.[7] Initially it was an engine built for PC and next-gen development to "do things better not bigger".[8] [9] The core of the game engine is powered by a "node-based system" and the engine is a dynamic, interconnected and flexible system where developers can create their assets quickly and interact with them in ways that have never been done before.[10] [11] Massive created a lighting and destruction system inspired by film production techniques.[12] [13] [14] Features of Snowdrop include advanced physically based rendering (PBR), procedural destruction, and a dynamic global illumination system.[15] [16] [17]

According to the developers, the engine was designed with three pillars: Empowerment, which allows animators, artists and designers to get their work done quicker, Real Time, which allows developers to implement and iterate quickly and Fun, a concept that applies not only to the final product, but to using the engine during development.[18] [19] An improved version of the engine was used for Tom Clancy's The Division 2.[20] [21]

In February 2016, Massive confirmed that the engine can be used for other Ubisoft games.[22] [23] According to Martin Hultberg, head of IP at Ubisoft Massive, Snowdrop became available to all Ubisoft studios and not just those working on the Tom Clancy's IP.[24] [25] These games include ,[26] ,[27] and .[28] In June 2021, Ubisoft confirmed that the engine will be upgraded for .[29] [30] According to senior technical artist Kunal Luthra, thousands of assets can be propagated inside of each frame to create more highly detailed environments.[31] [32] The engine would also support real-time ray tracing, unified volumetric rendering, as well as improved AI behavior for NPCs.[33] [34] Snowdrop was also used for Star Wars Outlaws.[35] [36] Star Wars Outlaws features RTX Direct Illumination and DLSS Ray Reconstruction.[37] Massive also developed its own digital "camera lens" in Snowdrop, which was used to give Star Wars Outlaws a more cinematic presentation as an option.[38] [39] The remake of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell will also use Snowdrop.[40] [41] [42] Ubisoft announced they will continue to upscale and develop the engine.[43]

Features

Features of Snowdrop include:[44]

Games using Snowdrop

YearTitlePlatform(s)Developer(s)
2016Tom Clancy's The DivisionPlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox OneMassive Entertainment
2017Mario + Rabbids Kingdom BattleNintendo SwitchUbisoft Milan
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox OneUbisoft San Francisco
2018Ubisoft Toronto
2019Tom Clancy's The Division 2PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox OneMassive Entertainment
2022Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox OneUbisoft Chengdu
Rocksmith+Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, WindowsUbisoft San Francisco
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of HopeNintendo SwitchUbisoft Milan
2023Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SUbisoft Düsseldorf
PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/SMassive Entertainment
2024XDefiantUbisoft San Francisco
Star Wars OutlawsMassive Entertainment
Tom Clancy's Splinter CellUbisoft Toronto

Cancelled

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Division: Ubisoft discusses next-gen Snowdrop engine & more . 12 July 2013 . VG247.
  2. Web site: Ubisoft Talks The Division: Snowdrop Engine, Next-Gen and More . 12 July 2013 . Gameranx.
  3. Web site: 'The Division' Trailer Highlights Snowdrop Engine . 7 December 2013 . Game Rant.
  4. Web site: The Division’s VGX trailer shows off Snowdrop engine . 8 December 2013 . Polygon.
  5. Web site: Why Ubisoft Ditched Unreal in Favor of Its Own Proprietary Tech . 16 September 2017 . IGN.
  6. Web site: Ubisoft's Open-World Star Wars: Snowdrop Engine Details and Past Games . 8 May 2022 . Game Rant.
  7. Web site: The Division's Snowdrop Engine has been in development for 5 years . 1 April 2014 . VideoGamer.
  8. Web site: Ubisoft: Snowdrop engine allows us to work better, not bigger . 19 March 2014 . MCV/Develop.
  9. Web site: The Division: Snowdrop engine designed "to do things better, not bigger," Ubisoft details tech in new blog . 24 March 2014 . VG247.
  10. Web site: Here's The Division's amazing game engine in action . 19 March 2014 . Polygon.
  11. Web site: The Division's Snowdrop Engine "Capable of Creating Large Range of Varied Universes" . 24 March 2014 . GamingBolt.
  12. Web site: The Division video shows procedural destruction and lighting in the Snowdrop Engine . 8 December 2013 . PCGamesN.
  13. Web site: The Division's Snowdrop engine allows for "smarter", "bigger" development, says devs . 9 December 2013 . VG247.
  14. Web site: Ubisoft shows off Snowdrop engine with help from Tom Clancy's 'The Division' . 9 December 2013 . Engadget.
  15. Web site: Tech Analysis: Tom Clancy's The Division . 29 June 2013 . Eurogamer.
  16. Web site: The Division Graphics Tech Detailed: PBR, Dynamic GI With Real-Time Bounce Lighting . 13 January 2016 . GamingBolt.
  17. Web site: Star Wars Outlaws' Snowdrop Engine Explained . 14 September 2023 . Game Rant.
  18. Web site: The Division's Snowdrop engine makes game development fun . 9 December 2013 . Polygon.
  19. Web site: The Division’s Snowdrop Engine Allows for Dynamic Destruction, Designed for Next-Gen . 9 December 2013 . GamingBolt.
  20. Web site: The Division 2 announced, will be powered by Snowdrop Engine and will be present at E3 2018 . 8 March 2018 . DSOGaming.
  21. Web site: The Division 2 is currently in the works at Massive Entertainment, more to come at E3 2018 . 8 March 2018 . VG247.
  22. Web site: The Division’s Snowdrop engine could be used in other Ubisoft games like Assassin’s Creed . 20 February 2016 . PCGamesN.
  23. Web site: Massive Entertainment’s Snowdrop Engine May Be Used In Other Ubisoft Games . 20 February 2016 . DSOGaming.
  24. Web site: Ubisoft's next-gen Snowdrop engine powers The Division, and now more . 21 February 2016 . TweakTown.
  25. Web site: The Division's Snowdrop engine and Dark Zone design could be used in other Ubi games . 22 February 2016 . VG247.
  26. Web site: Art Design Deep Dive: Getting official South Park art into The Fractured But Whole . 14 December 2017 . Game Developer.
  27. Web site: Mario + Rabbids is Switch's unlikeliest tech showcase . 11 September 2017 . Eurogamer.
  28. Web site: Starlink: Battle for Atlas Gets New Screenshots, Artwork and Details . 12 June 2017 . DualShockers.
  29. Web site: New Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora trailer details upgrades to Snowdrop engine . 24 June 2021 . Digital Trends.
  30. Web site: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora tech showcase details improvements made to Snowdrop engine . 25 June 2021 . VG247.
  31. Web site: Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora Looks Beautifully Alien In New Snowdrop Engine Tech Showcase . 24 June 2021 . GameSpot.
  32. Web site: Ubisoft showcases improvements made to The Division’s engine for its next-gen Avatar game . 25 June 2021 . Video Games Chronicle.
  33. Web site: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is one of the most technologically impressive games of the year . 8 December 2023 . Eurogamer.
  34. Web site: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - the big developer tech interview . 17 December 2023 . Eurogamer.
  35. Web site: Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws Open-World Game Debuts At Xbox Showcase . 12 June 2023 . GameSpot.
  36. Web site: First 'Star Wars Outlaws' gameplay trailer offers 10 minutes of scoundrel wish fulfillment . 13 June 2023 . Engadget.
  37. Web site: Star Wars Outlaws pushes the latest PC technologies hard - and the results are stunning . 31 August 2024 . Eurogamer.
  38. Web site: Star Wars Outlaws Cinematic Mode Makes It Look Like The Original Trilogy . 26 August 2024 . GameSpot.
  39. Web site: Star Wars Outlaws is beautifully realised on PS5 and Series X/S, bar a few rogue issues . 27 August 2024 . Eurogamer.
  40. Web site: A Splinter Cell remake is in development at Ubisoft Toronto . 15 December 2021 . Polygon.
  41. Web site: Ubisoft announces Splinter Cell remake . 15 December 2021 . Eurogamer.
  42. Web site: Splinter Cell Remake Announced by Ubisoft . 15 December 2021 . Game Rant.
  43. Web site: Ubisoft scaling Anvil, Snowdrop engines to flex next-gen consoles . 31 March 2021 . TweakTown.
  44. Web site: Snowdrop Game Engine: What You Need To Know About Ubisoft’s Secret Weapon . 4 July 2023 . gamedesigning.org.
  45. Web site: Ubisoft cancels The Division Heartland, the latest AAA free-to-play game casualty . McWhertor . Michael . May 15, 2024 . Polygon . May 15, 2024.
  46. Web site: Ubisoft Cancels The Division Heartland . Valentine . Rebekah . May 15, 2024 . IGN . May 15, 2024.

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