These video game engines drive the current retro revival.
Adapting retro games for modern consoles may seem like a simple task, but in reality, it is a more complex process than many might imagine.
In recent years, retro video games have regained prominence thanks to a series of developers who have established themselves by releasing remasters, collections, and adaptations of gaming classics. These revivals are not just limited to reproducing the original games; they also include enhancements in gameplay and visual elements, as well as offering informative museums about the creation of these titles. While these reimaginings generally benefit the video game industry, they present a challenge for developers: they require proprietary technology. To tackle this challenge, many of the involved studios have developed their own emulation engines. Among the most well-known are Nightdive Studios' KEX Engine, Limited Run Games' Carbon Engine, Digital Eclipse's Eclipse Engine, and Implicit Conversions' Syrup Engine. Without these engines, recent releases such as Doom + Doom II, Micro Mages, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, and Tomba: Special Edition would not have been possible.
In conversations with developers, similarities in their motivations were identified: creating more accessible and modern frameworks that allow retro games to adapt to current platforms.
KEX Engine – Nightdive Studios
Nightdive Studios has worked on remastering classic first-person shooter games, with Killing Time Remastered being their latest release. Larry Kuperman, Nightdive's director of business development, pointed out that the studio's vision for remasters is that they "should look and feel as you remember the original game." To achieve this, they have created the KEX Engine, which allows Nightdive to integrate the game they are remastering and make the necessary adaptations for the modern release of a classic, using the same rendering technology as the originals. This engine also enables them to expand the classics through quality-of-life improvements, new content, or galleries showcasing development materials.
Syrup Engine – Implicit Conversions
Implicit Conversions, known for their work on the remastering of classic PlayStation titles for PS Plus, is developing their own emulation engine called Syrup Engine. Their first game using this engine is Micro Mages, originally designed for NES and now available on PlayStation 5. This engine facilitates the incorporation of modern features, such as widescreen support and save states. According to Robin Lavallée, CEO and co-founder of Implicit Conversions, the goal is to create an environment that simplifies the porting of retro games.
Eclipse Engine – Digital Eclipse
Digital Eclipse, known for its Gold Master series of video game collections, employs an engine internally known as Bakesale, publicly referred to as Eclipse Engine. This framework allows engineers to enhance old games for modern platforms or develop new versions of classics. Chris Kohler, editorial director, explains that it provides them with the necessary tools to integrate emulation technology and build upon it.
Carbon Engine – Limited Run Games
Limited Run Games has positioned itself at the center of the revival of retro classics, striving to enter the development and publishing of video games. Their Carbon Engine is a development environment that facilitates the interface between emulators and modern platforms. Joe Modzeleski, development director, highlighted that they seek to offer developers a way to utilize their catalog without the financial risks involved. Managing the emulation of various old platforms on modern systems is a significant financial challenge, and their approach allows games that would otherwise not be re-released to do so.
With the growing interest in emulation and preservation, the technology that allows resource sharing between projects becomes essential. These engines are evolving to successfully emulate classics while adding modern enhancements that amplify the gaming experience. The retro video game revolution is underway, and these engines provide the necessary power to ensure that its resurgence is not fleeting.
