A case for building your own tech | Opinion
"It’s crazy to make your own engine" "The cost is too much" "We haven’t released a game yet, is custom tech a smart way to spend our time and money right now?"
As a founding member of Oxide Games, I've heard all of these statements phrased in some way or another. When we founded Oxide, one of our founding principles was that we would create our own proprietary engine, Nitrous. Without this dedication to advancing our tech, Ashes of the Singularity wouldn't have been the first game ever to utilize DX12.
Through this experience, and my time in the game industry, I've constantly voiced my belief that creating custom technology is a practice that most game studios should strongly consider if they want to create games that break the mold.
One of the industry's greatest challenges lies in challenging norms and misconceptions about game engines. Products like Unreal and Unity have simplified game development in many ways, but while many great games have been made with off-the-shelf technology, I can't help but think about what great games were never made. However well-intentioned, there is a habit, when using off-the-shelf technology, to stay in a box that you might not even know existed.
Innovation and unique gameplay experiences are sometimes brought about by developers pursuing the fusion of custom tech and game ideas. It can play a pivotal role in creating a successful studio, ensures quality and familiarity, attracts and retains top talent, and can create unique experiences for players.
You can see clear evidence of this phenomenon in the marketplace. Nearly all of the top 20 selling games of 2021 and 2022 use proprietary technology to accomplish an experience that players know they can't find anywhere else.
Attract
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