Popular Steam game abandons Unity for new engine promising up to 4× better performance

What occurs when a recreation developer decides to switch the engine behind its established hit? In RimWorld‘s case, the answer could be a substantial performance boost.

Ludeon Studios has introduced replace 1.7, which strikes its colony simulation recreation from Unity to the corporate’s newly developed Waylith Engine. In keeping with the developer, inner testing exhibits efficiency enhancements of between two and 4 occasions in contrast with model 1.6.

The sport itself ought to look and play the identical. Below the bonnet, nonetheless, the adjustments are appreciable.

Sooner colonies, shorter loading occasions

In a single stress take a look at, a demanding late-game colony ran 2.2 occasions sooner than earlier than. One other take a look at involving 1,500 mods noticed loading occasions fall from 14 minutes to simply six.

The enhancements lengthen to startup occasions, map era, world era and normal simulation efficiency. Precise outcomes will depend upon particular person {hardware} and mod configurations.

However what occurs to current saves and mods?

Ludeon says save information stay suitable in each instructions between variations 1.6 and 1.7. The overwhelming majority of current mods also needs to work with out modification, though some might initially show compatibility warnings. The brand new engine additionally helps newer C# options and makes it simpler for modders to create complicated modifications and customized visible results.

There’s one caveat. PCs greater than 10 years previous may not be capable of run the brand new engine.

A second recreation is already in improvement

Maybe the most important shock is that Waylith is not being developed completely for RimWorld. Ludeon has confirmed that one other, as-yet-unannounced recreation is already being constructed utilizing the engine, though additional particulars stay beneath wraps.

Replace 1.7 is on the market now by RimWorld‘s unstable beta department on Steam. Gamers can entry it by the sport’s Properties menu beneath Betas, whereas the usual launch stays on model 1.6.

For now, the spectacular efficiency figures are developer-reported relatively than independently verified. Nonetheless, changing a longtime recreation’s engine whereas retaining save compatibility is a major technical enterprise.