Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
{{Short description|Proprietary game engine}}
{{Redirect|Rage engine|the engine used in id Software's 2011 video game named Rage|id Tech 5}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox video game engine
| name = Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
| logo = Rockstar Advanced Game Engine Logo.svg
| screenshot = Grand Theft Auto V Los Santos.jpg
| caption = The city of Los Santos, as seen in Grand Theft Auto V: The game makes use of RAGE's many graphical features, such as depth of field, high draw distance and detailed weather effects.
| developer = RAGE Technology Group (Rockstar San Diego)
| replaces = Angel Game Engine
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2019|October|8}}
| middleware = {{unbulleted list|Bink Video|Bullet|Euphoria}}
| programming language =
| platform = {{unbulleted list|macOS|PlayStation 3|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox 360|Xbox One| Xbox Series X/S|Stadia||Wii|Nintendo Switch|Windows}}
| license = Proprietary
}}
The Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) is a proprietary game engine of Rockstar Games, developed by the RAGE Technology Group division of Rockstar San Diego (formerly Angel Studios), based on the Angel Game Engine.{{Cite web |title=RAGE |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rage-kavin-a-uq5me |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}} Since its first game, Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis in 2006, released for the Xbox 360 and Wii, the engine has been used by Rockstar Games's internal studios to develop advanced open world games for computers and consoles.
History
= Early history =
Angel Studios previously used the game engine Angel Real Time Simulation (ARTS) for Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. (1998) and Midtown Madness (1999).{{Cite web |last=Antunes |first=José |date=1999-04-11 |title=A loucura da Microsoft |url=https://www.publico.pt/1999/04/12/jornal/a-loucura-da-microsoft-132029 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=PÚBLICO |language=pt}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-28 |title=Software Industry Takes Hard Stand Against Piracy - San Diego Business Journal |url=https://www.sdbj.com/imported/software-industry-takes-hard-stand-against-piracy/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928193521/https://www.sdbj.com/imported/software-industry-takes-hard-stand-against-piracy/ |archive-date=September 28, 2022 }} The following year, Angel Studios developed Midtown Madness 2 (2000), the first title to use the new Angel Game Engine (AGE).{{cite magazine |title=Так сложились рок-звезды |language=ru |trans-title=This is how Rockstars work |last=Torik |first=Svyatoslav |magazine=Strana Igr |publisher=Gameland |pages=64–72 |volume=9 |issue=325 |date=September 2011 }} In 2002, Angel Studios was sold to Take-Two Interactive, moved under Rockstar Games, and rebranded Rockstar San Diego. This sale also included AGE, later renamed the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE).{{Cite web |last=Hester |first=Blake |date=2020-04-16 |title=Two days in Colombia with the founder of Rockstar San Diego |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/16/21222700/diego-angel-colombia-rockstar-san-diego |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}
= Development =
Prior to developing RAGE, Rockstar Games mostly used Criterion Games's RenderWare engine to develop games for PlayStation 2, Windows, and Xbox, such as the early 3D installments in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.{{cite web |author= |date=September 12, 2005 |title='This is the game that will put PSP over the top.' |url=http://www.1up.com/previews/liberty-city-stories_5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526082442/http://www.1up.com/previews/liberty-city-stories_5 |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |website=1Up.com}} In 2004, Criterion Games was acquired by Electronic Arts, which led Rockstar Games to switch from RenderWare and open RAGE Technology Group as a division of Rockstar San Diego.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamestar.de/artikel/die-wichtigsten-spiele-engines-hinter-den-hits,3031120,seite2.html |title=Seite 2: Die wichtigsten Spiele-Engines – Hinter den Hits |trans-title=Page 2: The Most Important Game Engines – Behind the Hits |first=Patrick |last=Mittler |date=December 26, 2013 |website=GameStar |language=de |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025851/http://www.gamestar.de/artikel/die-wichtigsten-spiele-engines-hinter-den-hits,3031120,seite2.html |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=live }} RAGE Technology Group started developing what would later become RAGE, based on Rockstar San Diego's AGE.{{cite web |author= |date=April 23, 2008 |title=Rockstar explains the tech behind GTA4, with new screens. |url=http://www.1up.com/previews/grand-theft-auto-iv_3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009160657/http://www.1up.com/previews/grand-theft-auto-iv_3 |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |website=1Up.com}} The engine would facilitate game development on Windows and seventh generation consoles.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=RAGE Namespace Glossary |url=https://rage.re/t/rage-namespace-glossary/13 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=rage.re |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rockstar Advanced Game Engine |url=https://prezi.com/ctkhqujjysmm/rockstar-advanced-game-engine/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=prezi.com |language=en}} The first game to use the engine was Rockstar San Diego's Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis, released for Xbox 360 on May 23, 2006{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/that-time-rockstar-made-a-table-tennis-game-1750981913 |title=That Time Rockstar Made A Table Tennis Game |first=Patrick |last=Klepek |date=January 4, 2016 |website=Kotaku |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015913/https://kotaku.com/that-time-rockstar-made-a-table-tennis-game-1750981913 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=live }} and ported to the Wii more than a year later. Since then, RAGE integrates the third-party middleware components Euphoria{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-12-one-thing-about-gta4-has-never-been-bettered |title=Nine years later, one feature in GTA4 has never been bettered – here's its story |first=Kirk |last=McKeand |website=Eurogamer |date=February 12, 2017 |access-date=March 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313153808/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-12-one-thing-about-gta4-has-never-been-bettered |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |url-status=live }} and Bullet, as character animation engine and physics engine, respectively.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/02/rockstar_fills_/ |title=Rockstar Fills its Games With Euphoria |first=Susan |last=Arendt |date=February 28, 2007 |magazine=Wired |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103410/https://www.wired.com/2007/02/rockstar_fills_/ |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/graphics/amd-manju-hegde-gaming-physics/3/ |title=AMD Talks GPU Gaming Physics: Bullet Physics – The Future of GPU-Accelerated Physics? |first=Ben |last=Hardwidge |date=February 17, 2011 |website=Bit-Tech |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103413/https://www.bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/graphics/amd-manju-hegde-gaming-physics/3/ |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}
On PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, RAGE often saw a disparity in the optimization on the hardware: major titles on PlayStation 3 usually had lower resolution and minor graphic effects, as in Grand Theft Auto IV (720p vs. 640p),{{cite web |title=Face-Off: Max Payne 3 |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-max-payne-3-face-off |first=Thomas |last=Morgan |date=May 22, 2012 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051748/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-max-payne-3-face-off |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Grand Theft Auto IV: PS3 vs. Xbox 360 Special • Page 3 |first=Richard |last=Leadbetter |date=May 5, 2008 |website=Eurogamer |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grand-theft-auto-iv-ps3-vs-xbox-360-special-article?page=3 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051635/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grand-theft-auto-iv-ps3-vs-xbox-360-special-article?page=3 |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live }} in Midnight Club: Los Angeles (1280×720p vs. 960×720p){{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/xbox-360-vs-ps3-face-off-round-15-article?page=3 |title=Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Face-Off: Round 15 • Page 3 |first=Richard |last=Leadbetter |date=November 4, 2008 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051653/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/xbox-360-vs-ps3-face-off-round-15-article?page=3 |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live }} and in Red Dead Redemption (720p vs. 640p).{{cite web |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/196661/red_dead_redemption_ps3_xbox_360.html |title=Analysis: Red Dead Redemption on PS3 vs. Xbox 360 |first=Matt |last=Peckham |date=May 19, 2010 |website=PC World |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704121123/http://www.pcworld.com/article/196661/red_dead_redemption_ps3_xbox_360.html |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |url-status=live }} Despite its problems in optimization equality, in July 2009, Chris Stead of IGN voted RAGE as one of the "10 Best Game Engines of [the 7th] Generation", saying: "RAGE's strengths are many. Its ability to handle large streaming worlds, complex A.I. arrangements, weather effects, fast network code and a multitude of gameplay styles will be obvious to anyone who has played GTA IV."{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/15/the-10-best-game-engines-of-this-generation |title=The 10 Best Game Engines of This Generation |first=Chris |last=Stead |date=July 15, 2009 |website=IGN |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523233617/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/15/the-10-best-game-engines-of-this-generation |archive-date=May 23, 2017 |url-status=live }}
Since the release of Max Payne 3, the engine supports DirectX 11 and stereoscopic 3D rendering for personal computers.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-22-max-payne-3-pc-supports-directx-11-3d |title=Max Payne 3 PC supports DirectX 11, 3D |first=Fred |last=Dutton |date=March 22, 2012 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=March 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324183644/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-22-max-payne-3-pc-supports-directx-11-3d |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=live }} Max Payne 3 also marked the first time in which RAGE was capable of rendering the same 720p resolution on a game, both on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This benefit has been achieved also in Grand Theft Auto V, which renders at a 720p resolution on both consoles.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-grand-theft-auto-5-face-off |title=Face-Off: Grand Theft Auto 5 |first=Thomas |last=Morgan |date=September 17, 2013 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917164236/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-grand-theft-auto-5-face-off |archive-date=September 17, 2013 |url-status=live }}
For the remastered versions of Grand Theft Auto V, RAGE was reworked for the eighth generation of video game consoles, with 1080p resolution support for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.{{cite web |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/52341/gtav-ign-delivers-new-details-first-person-experience |title=GTAV: IGN Delivers New Details – First Person Experience Revealed |date=November 4, 2014 |website=Rockstar Games |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216204643/https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/52341/gtav-ign-delivers-new-details-first-person-experience |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |url-status=live }} The PC version of the game, released in 2015, showed RAGE supporting 4K resolution and frame rates at 60 frames per second, as well as more powerful draw distances, texture filtering, and improved shadow mapping and tessellation quality.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-grand-theft-auto-5-pc-face-off |title=Face-Off: Grand Theft Auto 5 on PC |first=Thomas |last=Morgan |date=April 21, 2015 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051745/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-grand-theft-auto-5-pc-face-off |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}
RAGE would later be further refined with the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, supporting physically based rendering, volumetric clouds and fog values, pre-calculated global illumination{{cite web |last1=Linneman |first1=John |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 analysis: a once-in-a-generation technological achievement |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2018-red-dead-redemption-2-tech-analysis |website=Eurogamer |access-date=24 February 2020 |language=en |date=25 October 2018 |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224043434/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2018-red-dead-redemption-2-tech-analysis |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Linneman |first=John |date=October 3, 2017 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2's state-of-the-art technology analysed |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-red-dead-redemption-2-trailer-tech-analysis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180215143723/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-red-dead-redemption-2-trailer-tech-analysis |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=February 15, 2018 |website=Eurogamer}} as well as a Vulkan renderer in the Windows version in addition to DirectX 12.{{cite web |last=Moass |first=Dominic |date=2019-11-07 |title=Vulkan vs DX12 Red Dead Redemption 2 PC Performance Analysis |url=https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/dominic-moass/vulkan-vs-dx12-red-dead-redemption-2-pc-performance-analysis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224043433/https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/dominic-moass/vulkan-vs-dx12-red-dead-redemption-2-pc-performance-analysis/ |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=February 24, 2020 |website=KitGuru}} The Euphoria engine was overhauled to create advanced AI as well as enhanced physics and animations for the game.{{cite web |last=Parijat |first=Shubhankar |date=24 October 2018 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2's Euphoria Engine Is "Radically Overhauled", Says Rockstar |url=https://gamingbolt.com/red-dead-redemption-2s-euphoria-engine-is-radically-overhauled-says-rockstar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106085307/https://gamingbolt.com/red-dead-redemption-2s-euphoria-engine-is-radically-overhauled-says-rockstar |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=GamingBolt}}{{cite web |last=McKeand |first=Kirk |date=12 December 2018 |title=Best of 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 - how advanced AI and physics create the most believable open world yet |url=https://www.vg247.com/red-dead-redemption-2-physics-ai-euphoria-phil-hooker-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106085306/https://www.vg247.com/red-dead-redemption-2-physics-ai-euphoria-phil-hooker-interview |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=VG247}} HDR support was added in May 2019.{{cite web |last=Sinha |first=Ravi |date=17 May 2019 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 Title Update Fixes HDR, Adds Calibration Menu |url=https://gamingbolt.com/red-dead-redemption-2-title-update-fixes-hdr-adds-calibration-menu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106093343/https://gamingbolt.com/red-dead-redemption-2-title-update-fixes-hdr-adds-calibration-menu |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=GamingBolt}}{{cite web |last=Murnane |first=Kevin |date=24 May 2019 |title='Red Dead Remption 2' Finally Gets An HDR Patch. How Does It Look? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurnane/2019/05/24/red-dead-remption-2-finally-gets-an-hdr-patch-how-does-it-look/?sh=3c814e9781d1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106085306/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurnane/2019/05/24/red-dead-remption-2-finally-gets-an-hdr-patch-how-does-it-look/?sh=3c814e9781d1 |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=Forbes}}{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Thomas |last2=Fairclough |first2=Adam |date=24 May 2019 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 patch 1.09 tested: has HDR been fixed? |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2019-red-dead-redemption-2-patch-109-adds-excellent-hdr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106085306/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2019-red-dead-redemption-2-patch-109-adds-excellent-hdr |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=Eurogamer}} Support for Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) and AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) were added in July 2021 and September 2022 respectively.{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Andy |date=13 July 2021 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 PC's DLSS update is out, with a '45% 4K performance boost' |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/red-dead-redemption-2-pcs-dlss-update-is-out-with-a-45-4k-performance-boost/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106095939/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/red-dead-redemption-2-pcs-dlss-update-is-out-with-a-45-4k-performance-boost/ |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=Video Games Chronicle}}{{cite web |last=Prescott |first=Shaun |date=14 July 2021 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 DLSS update brings 'up to' 45 percent performance boost today |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/red-dead-redemption-2-dlss-update-brings-up-to-45-percent-performance-boost-today/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716163836/https://www.pcgamer.com/red-dead-redemption-2-dlss-update-brings-up-to-45-percent-performance-boost-today/ |archive-date=July 16, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=PC Gamer}}{{cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=14 July 2021 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 Finally Gets DLSS Support |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/red-dead-redemption-2-dlss-update |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=Tom's Hardware |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125075518/https://www.tomshardware.com/news/red-dead-redemption-2-dlss-update |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Stobing |first=Chris |date=16 July 2021 |title=We Tested the New DLSS 2.2 Update for Red Dead Redemption 2: Here's What We Saw |url=https://sea.pcmag.com/graphics-cards/44836/we-tested-the-new-dlss-22-update-for-red-dead-redemption-2-heres-what-we-saw |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715172856/https://sea.pcmag.com/graphics-cards/44836/we-tested-the-new-dlss-22-update-for-red-dead-redemption-2-heres-what-we-saw |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=PCMag}}{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |title=Red Dead Redemption 2 Title Update 1.31 Notes (PS4 / Xbox One / PC) |url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/9295354296595/Red-Dead-Redemption-2-Title-Update-1-31-Notes-PS4-Xbox-One-PC |access-date=8 March 2025 |website=Rockstar Support |quote=AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 2.0 has been implemented}}
The 2022 release of Grand Theft Auto V for the ninth generation of video game consoles introduced several enhancements, incorporating features from later RAGE titles. Raytraced reflections, native 4K resolution on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, upscaled 4K on the Xbox Series S, as well as HDR support were added.{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2022-03-04 |title=GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X remaster offers a mix of 4K, 60 fps, and ray tracing |url=https://www.polygon.com/22961444/gta-5-remaster-enhanced-expanded-ps5-xbox-series-x |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329024150/https://www.polygon.com/22961444/gta-5-remaster-enhanced-expanded-ps5-xbox-series-x |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Kerry |first=Ben |date=2022-12-29 |title=Video: Digital Foundry Puts GTA5 Ray Tracing To The Test On Xbox Series X |url=https://www.purexbox.com/news/2022/12/video-digital-foundry-puts-gta5-ray-tracing-to-the-test-on-xbox-series-x |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Pure Xbox |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329024150/https://www.purexbox.com/news/2022/12/video-digital-foundry-puts-gta5-ray-tracing-to-the-test-on-xbox-series-x |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-03-04 |title=GTAV and GTA Online Coming March 15 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X{{!}}S |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/172872k8a375k8/gtav-and-gta-online-coming-march-15-for-playstation-5-and-xbox-series |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Rockstar Games |language= |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329160743/https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/172872k8a375k8/gtav-and-gta-online-coming-march-15-for-playstation-5-and-xbox-series |url-status=live }}
Games using RAGE
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
{{Rockstar Games}}
{{Take-Two Interactive}}
{{Video game engines}}