Crytek have just released CryEngine 5.5. CryEngine continues to get more developer friendly with new documentation, a Unity developer migration guide, improved C# support, a new beginner sample and more. Addition the engine has gotten rendering, terrain and plugin improvements, as well as usability improvements in the sandbox editor. Please note that licensing and royalties have changed with the 5.5 release, so be sure to read the updated licensing terms before choosing CryEngine for your game.
A summary of the major improvements from the 5.5 release:
- SVOGI Improvements: SVOGI, the feature which allows developers to create scenes with realistic ambient tonality, now includes a major advancement with SVO Ray-traced Shadows offering an alternative to using cached shadow maps in scenes.
- Documentation Overhaul: As requested by the community, redesigned and updated documentation arrives for designers, artists, programmers, and anyone who uses the Sandbox Editor. Veterans and newcomers alike will be able to quickly find what they need.
- Flappy Boid: Flappy Boid is a fun, accessible, and now comprehensive onboarding course enabling users to learn core game development concepts while building a finished game.
- Sandbox UI/UX Changes: The Sandbox Editor improves workflow, performance, and optimization, making the development process quicker and easier.
- Terrain Object Blending: Users can mark Entities with a Mesh Component to become a part of the terrain mesh, empowering more realism, especially with snow and sand scenes.
- Updated Entity Components: Multiple new and legacy Components come to the new Entity System, including the porting of legacy rain and water ripple Entities and a new VR Camera and Interaction Component to get users up and running with their VR project quickly.
- C# Upgrades: C# assets can be created directly inside of the Asset Browser and functions may be exposed to Schematyc for use inside of Entity Components. C# users will now be able to debug through Visual Studio via a new extension.
- Terrain System Improvements: Blend multiple materials and use a new displacement option in the sculpting tools for even more realistic terrain.
- Game Platform Plugins: A new Game Platform plugin allows for easy access to common distribution platforms and data transfer protocols, including Steamworks and PSN APIs.
- CRYENGINE Versions and Full Editor Source Code: Users can submit pull requests, access the full Sandbox Editor source code, and get preview releases via GitHub. Preview releases will also continue to be made available via the CRYENGINE Launcher.
- Unity Migration Guide: Unity Engine users can transfer their skills and content to CRYENGINE quickly and easily with our easy-to-use migration guide.
- New Sandbox Level File Format: This feature brings the ability to place level files anywhere within the project directory, and allows for dynamic population.
- Automated Packaging and Backing Up: Non-coders can simply share and release CRYENGINE content with new package build functionality within the CrySelect interface. A new Backup Project tool makes backing up projects simple.
This release contains over 1000 fixes, tweaks and improvements. If you are interested in reading the full release notes they are available here.