Square Enix Develops First Person Shooter?

Square Enix has struck a deal with Epic Games to license the Unreal Engine 3 for future game development. Could Final Fantasy go first person?

Know for their articulate role playing games with series like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix has entered an agreement with Epic Games to use their Unreal Engine 3 middleware for future game development.

"The complexity of next-generation game systems featuring HD graphics and multi-core parallel processing poses a number of technological challenges to our game development. However, we can expedite our game development process significantly while allowing extra time and resources to be spent on game design and mechanics by establishing an effective technology platform," said Taku Murata, General Manager, Research and Development Division, Square Enix, Co., Ltd. "The technology platform for game development is becoming more important than ever. I’m excited to be partnering with Epic Games in such an important area."

The Unreal Engine 3 features large world areas and supports multiple processors for both PCs and next generation consoles. Some of the console games to use the Unreal Engine 3 include Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, Deus Ex, America’s Army: Special Forces, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and the mega-hit Gears of War.