We're going to assume that the majority of you reading this article have heard of Havok. Even if you don't know what the mysterious technology does, its logo has appeared during the boot sequence of so many titles that we'd be shocked if you haven't seen it before. In the simplest of terms, the engine essentially powers the physics in the majority of games – and it's just been acquired by Microsoft for an undisclosed fee.
To provide a little context, upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusives like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Horizon: Zero Dawn are both set to use the physics engine, so what does this acquisition mean? Well, it turns out that – much like Minecraft before it – Microsoft will continue to license the technology out to anyone and everyone that wants to use it. "We will continue to [...] license Havok's development tools to partners," a statement said. Cool.
In truth, this is probably a positive move for the engine, as Microsoft does allude that it hopes that the acquisition will further strengthen its cloud-based computing services, which we're starting to see the fruits of from a gaming persuasion in Crackdown 3. If the company does ever decide to license that technology out to others, then it's unlikely that it would deny Sony access. After all, contrary to what forum posters would have you believe, competitors can collaborate when there's money to be made.
[source blogs.microsoft.com]
Comments 15
I do think this is some good news, Microsoft have money to burn so they could make havoc even better.
Haha Microsoft are playing the hero.
Until a few years from now
£150 per year licensing of Microsoft office with Minecraft and havoc mwah mwah hahaha. Student edition. Hehenehe.
To be fair, this is only like how Sony get a small amount of money from each Xbone sold because has Bluray. On the other hand, at least Sony were one of the companies that developed Bluray, unlike Microsoft doing what they do best and just buying something after someone else has done all the hard work.
Worse comes to worse I'm sure someone out there can develop similar software, but probably won't come to that
I guess it's safe to assume Tony Hawk 5 doesn't use this engine?!
I thought of me giving MS any money makes me feel sick :-/
Complete non issue honestly. All proprietary game engines won't use havok anyway, and there are already other options. What will probably happen is you will see the fast decline of havok as the popular physics choice in gaming.
@Matroska Just in fairness to Microsoft on this one, at least they aren't like EA where they buy up something/everything they can and somehow seem to ruin whatever it is they just acquired, to various degrees.
"Nothing to worry about." It's like letting the fox guard the chickens. MS don't have the moral dignity to be trusted to play fair regarding global tech. You have to earn trust and dignity. MS constantly demonstrate they are unable to play fair. Just look at the next Tomb Raider if you want proof of how MS predator capitalism works. It's dirty. It's corrupt. It hurts gamers.
They could easily deny the Havoc tech licence to all versions of a game running on Sony consoles now that they own it. When backed into the corner and desperate, lame cowards will always press the nuclear button and detonate. You don't have to believe me. You will see it happen for yourselves. MS will eventually kill the gaming industry.
@SanderEvers
Playing dirty is never smart or justified. PS4 gamers will never move over to XB1 to chase a game, because it involves a step down in performance. That fact just makes the gamer angry and they stay put.
Regarding mac and PC, the Windows OS and the MS OS both own tech that they allow the other side to use. Both sides benefit and are equal. Office is an actual product that is making money for them. If they remove the sale they loose money and could make the mac fail, loosing them a customer as well. It's in their interest to keep the mac alive because it is a customer to sell to that offers no threat.
The latest consoles are different because MS made a design error and is left in a weak position of their own making. As a result, they are tempted not to play fair to try and even things up. That is a very different situation and can never be right.
If you are in a running race, you don't just smack your opponent in the knee caps because you did not do as much training as him.
@justerthought I wouldn't say they were being malicious with the Tomb Raider thing. They need to sell consoles and they're getting trounced by Sony. Makes sense that they'd try to get as many exclusives as possible.
Over on xbox sites they're probably saying the same about SFV.
Niche in the market for another physics engine methinks....MS are such turds....
@justerthought
We're really going to use Tomb Raider as an example? What about the countless exclusive deals Sony signs?
They gonna tweak the engine to make it harder to use for PS4... Then devs will start complain about PS4 and SOny's bad support to them... M$ FTW!
@justerthought The irony of those comments. Sony is doing to exact same thing with games like Street Fighter V only instead of Tomb Raider eventually coming to PS4, SFV will probably never come to XB1..
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