Being able to create massively scalable online multiplayer videogames is no easy task which is why Improbable created the SpatialOS Game Development Kit (GDK). Today, the company has announced that the SpatialOS GDK is now available of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine as a free download.
The SpatialOS GDK will allow Unreal Engine users to grow any videogame in scale and complexity without the need for major changes to it or the engine code.
“It’s a platform for creating games that go beyond the limits of a single server, enabling you to implement new kinds of gameplay that would be impossible with the traditional client-server approach,” Epic notes on the Unreal Engine Blog. “What this means is that if you’re looking to make a multiplayer game using Unreal Engine, you can use the new SpatialOS Game Development Kit for Unreal to tap into Unreal Engine’s networking APIs to turn the client-server architecture into a distributed one, with your game hosted on Improbable’s global cloud platform.”
“We’re always excited to see new technology that gives developers using Unreal Engine more options,” said Nick Penwarden, Director of Engineering – Unreal Engine, Epic Games in a statement. “Now that SpatialOS works natively with our network replication APIs, it will be easier than ever for developers to explore how SpatialOS allows them to scale their game ideas seamlessly across multiple servers.”
Titles already tapping into the power of SpatialOS included NetEase’s upcoming virtual reality (VR) project Nostos and PC videogame Scavengers by Midwinter Entertainment.
“Developers want technology to enable their vision and enhance their creativity,” said Improbable’s Aaryn Flynn, General Manager, North America. “The new SpatialOS GDK unlocks new possibilities within Unreal Engine, empowering developers to make many game servers work together and act as one in a way that is seamless to players.”
The SpatialOS GDK for Unreal is available from the Unreal Marketplace and is free to try, with a free sandbox allocation for prototypes and experimental deployments. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Improbable and SpatialOS, reporting back with the latest announcements.