Snowdrop (game engine)

{{Infobox video game engine

| name = Snowdrop

| logo = Snowdrop logo.png

| screenshot =

| caption = Tom Clancy's The Division powered by Snowdrop

| developer = {{unbulleted list|Massive Entertainment|Ubisoft}}

| platform = {{unbulleted list|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 4||PlayStation 5|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S|Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch 2|Stadia}}

| programming language = C++

| license = Proprietary

| website = {{URL|https://www.massive.se/project/snowdrop-engine/}}

}}

Snowdrop (also known as Ubisoft Snowdrop) is a proprietary game engine created by Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft for use on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Stadia, and Luna. It was revealed at E3 2013 with Tom Clancy's The Division, the first game using the engine.{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/the-division-ubisoft-discusses-next-gen-snowdrop-engine-more |title=The Division: Ubisoft discusses next-gen Snowdrop engine & more |date=12 July 2013 |website=VG247}}{{cite web |url=https://gameranx.com/updates/id/16016/article/ubisoft-talks-the-division-snowdrop-engine-next-gen-and-more/ |title=Ubisoft Talks The Division: Snowdrop Engine, Next-Gen and More |date=12 July 2013 |website=Gameranx}}{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/the-division-vgx-snowdrop-trailer/ |title='The Division' Trailer Highlights Snowdrop Engine |date=7 December 2013 |website=Game Rant}}{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/12/8/5189086/the-divisions-vgx-trailer-shows-off-snowdrop-engine |title=The Division’s VGX trailer shows off Snowdrop engine |date=8 December 2013 |website=Polygon}} Snowdrop is one of the primary game engines used by Ubisoft along with Disrupt, Dunia, and Ubisoft Anvil.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/15/why-ubisoft-ditched-unreal-in-favor-of-its-own-proprietary-tech |title=Why Ubisoft Ditched Unreal in Favor of Its Own Proprietary Tech |date=16 September 2017 |website=IGN}}

History

The engine is coded mainly in C++.{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/ubisofts-open-world-star-wars-snowdrop-engine-details-games/ |title=Ubisoft's Open-World Star Wars: Snowdrop Engine Details and Past Games |date=8 May 2022 |website=Game Rant}} Rodrigo Cortes, former brand art director at Massive Entertainment, said that development on the Snowdrop engine started in 2009.{{cite web |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-has-been-in-development-for-5-years/ |title=The Division's Snowdrop Engine has been in development for 5 years |date=1 April 2014 |website=VideoGamer}} Initially it was an engine built for PC and next-gen development to "do things better not bigger".{{cite web |url=https://mcvuk.com/development-news/ubisoft-snowdrop-engine-allows-us-to-work-better-not-bigger/ |title=Ubisoft: Snowdrop engine allows us to work better, not bigger |date=19 March 2014 |website=MCV/Develop}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/the-division-snowdrop-engine-ubisoft-tech-blog |title=The Division: Snowdrop engine designed "to do things better, not bigger," Ubisoft details tech in new blog |date=24 March 2014 |website=VG247}} The core of the game engine is powered by a "node-based system" and the engine is a dynamic, interconnected and flexible system where developers can create their assets quickly and interact with them in ways that have never been done before.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/19/5524924/the-division-video-snowdrop-game-engine |title=Here's The Division's amazing game engine in action |date=19 March 2014 |website=Polygon}}{{cite web |url=https://gamingbolt.com/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-capable-of-creating-large-range-of-varied-universes |title=The Division's Snowdrop Engine "Capable of Creating Large Range of Varied Universes" |date=24 March 2014 |website=GamingBolt}} Massive created a lighting and destruction system inspired by film production techniques.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/division-video-shows-procedural-destruction-and-lighting-snowdrop-engine |title=The Division video shows procedural destruction and lighting in the Snowdrop Engine |date=8 December 2013 |website=PCGamesN}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-allows-for-smarter-bigger-development-says-devs |title=The Division's Snowdrop engine allows for "smarter", "bigger" development, says devs |date=9 December 2013 |website=VG247}}{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013-12-09-ubisoft-snowdrop.html?_fsig=s0f.gRxD6FhTT7eebX3ZbQ--%7EA |title=Ubisoft shows off Snowdrop engine with help from Tom Clancy's 'The Division' |date=9 December 2013 |website=Engadget}} Features of Snowdrop include advanced physically based rendering (PBR), procedural destruction, and a dynamic global illumination system.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-tech-analysis-tom-clancys-the-division |title=Tech Analysis: Tom Clancy's The Division |date=29 June 2013 |website=Eurogamer}}{{cite web |url=https://gamingbolt.com/the-division-graphics-tech-detailed-pbr-dynamic-gi-with-real-time-bounce-lighting |title=The Division Graphics Tech Detailed: PBR, Dynamic GI With Real-Time Bounce Lighting |date=13 January 2016 |website=GamingBolt}}{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-snowdrop-engine-history-graphics-features-explained/ |title=Star Wars Outlaws' Snowdrop Engine Explained |date=14 September 2023 |website=Game Rant}}

According to the developers, the engine was designed with three pillars: Empowerment, which allows animators, artists and designers to get their work done quicker, Real Time, which allows developers to implement and iterate quickly and Fun, a concept that applies not only to the final product, but to using the engine during development.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/12/9/5192048/the-division-snowdrop-engine |title=The Division's Snowdrop engine makes game development fun |date=9 December 2013 |website=Polygon}}{{cite web |url=https://gamingbolt.com/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-allows-for-dynamic-destruction-designed-for-next-gen |title=The Division’s Snowdrop Engine Allows for Dynamic Destruction, Designed for Next-Gen |date=9 December 2013 |website=GamingBolt}} An improved version of the engine was used for Tom Clancy's The Division 2.{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/division-2-currently-works-massive-entertainment |title=The Division 2 is currently in the works at Massive Entertainment, more to come at E3 2018 |date=8 March 2018 |website=VG247}}

In February 2016, Massive confirmed that the engine can be used for other Ubisoft games.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-division/the-divisions-snowdrop-engine-could-be-used-in-other-ubisoft-games-like-assassins-creed |title=The Division’s Snowdrop engine could be used in other Ubisoft games like Assassin’s Creed |date=20 February 2016 |website=PCGamesN}} According to Martin Hultberg, head of IP at Ubisoft Massive, Snowdrop became available to all Ubisoft studios and not just those working on the Tom Clancy's IP.{{cite web |url=https://www.tweaktown.com/news/50547/ubisofts-next-gen-snowdrop-engine-powers-division-now-more/index.html |title=Ubisoft's next-gen Snowdrop engine powers The Division, and now more |date=21 February 2016 |website=TweakTown}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/the-division-snowdrop-engine-in-other-ubisoft-games |title=The Division's Snowdrop engine and Dark Zone design could be used in other Ubi games |date=22 February 2016 |website=VG247}} These games include South Park: The Fractured but Whole,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/art-design-deep-dive-getting-official-south-park-art-into-i-the-fractured-but-whole-i-#close-modal |title=Art Design Deep Dive: Getting official South Park art into The Fractured But Whole |date=14 December 2017 |website=Game Developer}} Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle,{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2017-mario-rabbids-is-one-of-switchs-finest-tech-showcases |title=Mario + Rabbids is Switch's unlikeliest tech showcase |date=11 September 2017 |website=Eurogamer}} and Starlink: Battle for Atlas.{{cite web |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/starlink-battle-for-atlas-screenshots-details/ |title=Starlink: Battle for Atlas Gets New Screenshots, Artwork and Details |date=12 June 2017 |website=DualShockers}}

In June 2021, Ubisoft confirmed that the engine will be upgraded for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/avatar-game-snowdrop-engine-upgrades/ |title=New Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora trailer details upgrades to Snowdrop engine |date=24 June 2021 |website=Digital Trends}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-tech-showcase |title=Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora tech showcase details improvements made to Snowdrop engine |date=25 June 2021 |website=VG247}} According to senior technical artist Kunal Luthra, thousands of assets can be propagated inside of each frame to create more highly detailed environments.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-looks-beautifully-alien-in-new-snowdrop-engine-tech-showcase/1100-6493242/ |title=Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora Looks Beautifully Alien In New Snowdrop Engine Tech Showcase |date=24 June 2021 |website=GameSpot}}{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-showcases-improvements-made-to-the-divisions-engine-for-its-next-gen-avatar-game/ |title=Ubisoft showcases improvements made to The Division’s engine for its next-gen Avatar game |date=25 June 2021 |website=Video Games Chronicle}} The engine would also support real-time ray tracing, unified volumetric rendering, as well as improved AI behavior for NPCs.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2023-avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-is-one-of-the-most-technologically-impressive-games-of-the-year |title=Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is one of the most technologically impressive games of the year |date=8 December 2023 |website=Eurogamer}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2023-avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-and-snowdrop-the-big-developer-tech-interview |title=Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - the big developer tech interview |date=17 December 2023 |website=Eurogamer}}

Snowdrop was used for Star Wars Outlaws,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisofts-star-wars-outlaws-open-world-game-debuts-at-xbox-showcase/1100-6515054/ |title=Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws Open-World Game Debuts At Xbox Showcase |date=12 June 2023 |website=GameSpot}}{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/first-star-wars-outlaws-gameplay-trailer-offers-10-minutes-of-scoundrel-wish-fulfilment-184921702.html?_fsig=Uo58McTLiMzLnn6cMGH6ow--%7EA |title=First 'Star Wars Outlaws' gameplay trailer offers 10 minutes of scoundrel wish fulfillment |date=13 June 2023 |website=Engadget}} which features RTX Direct Illumination and DLSS Ray Reconstruction.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/star-wars-outlaws-performance-analysis-ray-traced-galaxies-far-far-away-really-really-demand-upscaling-and-frame-generation/ |title=Star Wars Outlaws performance analysis: Ray traced galaxies far, far away really, really demand upscaling and frame generation |date=26 August 2024 |website=PC Gamer}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2024-star-wars-outlaws-pushes-the-latest-pc-technologies-hard-and-the-results-are-stunning |title=Star Wars Outlaws pushes the latest PC technologies hard - and the results are stunning |date=31 August 2024 |website=Eurogamer}} Massive developed its own digital "camera lens" in Snowdrop, which was used to give the game a more cinematic presentation as an option.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-cinematic-mode-makes-it-look-like-the-original-trilogy/1100-6526114/ |title=Star Wars Outlaws Cinematic Mode Makes It Look Like The Original Trilogy |date=26 August 2024 |website=GameSpot}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2024-star-wars-outlaws-tech-analysis |title=Star Wars Outlaws is beautifully realised on PS5 and Series X/S, bar a few rogue issues |date=27 August 2024 |website=Eurogamer}}

The remake of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell will also use Snowdrop.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/22837857/splinter-cell-remake-announcement-ubisoft-toronto-snowdrop |title=A Splinter Cell remake is in development at Ubisoft Toronto |date=15 December 2021 |website=Polygon}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-announces-splinter-cell-remake |title=Ubisoft announces Splinter Cell remake |date=15 December 2021 |website=Eurogamer}}{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/splinter-cell-remake-announcement/ |title=Splinter Cell Remake Announced by Ubisoft |date=15 December 2021 |website=Game Rant}} Ubisoft announced they will continue to upscale and develop the engine.{{cite web |url=https://www.tweaktown.com/news/78516/ubisoft-scaling-anvil-snowdrop-engines-to-flex-next-gen-consoles/index.html |title=Ubisoft scaling Anvil, Snowdrop engines to flex next-gen consoles |date=31 March 2021 |website=TweakTown}}

Features

Features of Snowdrop include:{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedesigning.org/engines/snowdrop/ |title=Snowdrop Game Engine: What You Need To Know About Ubisoft’s Secret Weapon |date=4 July 2023 |website=gamedesigning.org}}

Node-based scripting system
Realistic day and night change
Global volumetric lighting
Procedural destruction
'Advanced' particle system and visual effects
Dynamic material shader
Live stat tracking

Games using Snowdrop

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Platform(s) ! scope="col" \| Developer(s) ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| {{Refh}}
scope="row" \| 2016 \| Tom Clancy's The Division \| PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One \| Massive Entertainment \| {{centered\|}}
scope="row" rowspan="2" \| 2017 \| Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle \| Nintendo Switch \| Ubisoft Milan \| {{centered\|}}
South Park: The Fractured but Whole \| rowspan="2" \| Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One \| Ubisoft San Francisco \| {{centered\|}}
scope="row" \| 2018 \| Starlink: Battle for Atlas \| Ubisoft Toronto \| {{centered\|}}
scope="row" \| 2019 \| Tom Clancy's The Division 2 \| PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One \| Massive Entertainment \| {{centered\|}}
scope="row" rowspan="3" \| 2022 \| Rabbids: Party of Legends \| Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One \| Ubisoft Chengdu \| {{centered\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.sohu.com/a/411773776_100281683 \|title=《疯狂兔子：奇遇派对》新宣传片游戏玩法及特色介绍 \|date=August 6, 2020 \|website=Sohu \|language=zh \|access-date=July 4, 2024 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182842/https://www.sohu.com/a/411773776_100281683 \|archive-date=January 18, 2022}}}}
Rocksmith+ \| Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows \| Ubisoft San Francisco \| {{centered\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.ubisoft.com/snowdrop/games/rocksmith-plus \|title=Snowdrop — Rocksmith+ \|website=Ubisoft \|access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope \| Nintendo Switch \| Ubisoft Milan \| {{centered\|{{cite web \|url=https://gamerant.com/mario-rabbids-sparks-hope-revealed-2022-release/ \|title=Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Revealed for 2022 Release \|last=Behan \|first=Daire \|date=June 12, 2021 \|website=Game Rant \|access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}
scope="row" rowspan="2" \| 2023 \| The Settlers: New Allies \| Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S \| Ubisoft Düsseldorf \| {{centered\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/21/ubisoft-announces-new-settlers-game \|title=Ubisoft Announces New Settlers Game \|last=Skrebels \|first=Joe \|date=August 21, 2018 \|website=IGN \|access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora \| rowspan="2" \| PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S \| Massive Entertainment \| {{centered\|}}
scope="row" rowspan="2" \| 2024 \| XDefiant \| Ubisoft San Francisco \| {{centered\|{{cite web \|url=https://egmnow.com/tom-clancys-xdefiant-is-new-f2p-class-based-shooter-from-ubisoft/ \|title=Tom Clancy's XDefiant is new free-to-play, class-based shooter from Ubisoft \|last=Goroff \|first=Michael \|date=July 19, 2021 \|website=Electronic Gaming Monthly \|access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}
Star Wars Outlaws \| rowspan="1" \| PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 \| Massive Entertainment \| {{centered\|}}
scope="row" {{n/a}} \| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell \| {{n/a}} \| Ubisoft Toronto \| {{centered\|}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Platform(s)

! scope="col" | Developer(s)

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Refh}}

scope="row" | 2016

| Tom Clancy's The Division

| PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One

| Massive Entertainment

| {{centered|}}

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2017

| Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

| Nintendo Switch

| Ubisoft Milan

| {{centered|}}

South Park: The Fractured but Whole

| rowspan="2" | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One

| Ubisoft San Francisco

| {{centered|}}

scope="row" | 2018

| Starlink: Battle for Atlas

| Ubisoft Toronto

| {{centered|}}

scope="row" | 2019

| Tom Clancy's The Division 2

| PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One

| Massive Entertainment

| {{centered|}}

scope="row" rowspan="3" | 2022

| Rabbids: Party of Legends

| Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One

| Ubisoft Chengdu

| {{centered|{{cite web |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/411773776_100281683 |title=《疯狂兔子：奇遇派对》新宣传片游戏玩法及特色介绍 |date=August 6, 2020 |website=Sohu |language=zh |access-date=July 4, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182842/https://www.sohu.com/a/411773776_100281683 |archive-date=January 18, 2022}}}}

Rocksmith+

| Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows

| Ubisoft San Francisco

| {{centered|{{cite web |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/snowdrop/games/rocksmith-plus |title=Snowdrop — Rocksmith+ |website=Ubisoft |access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

| Nintendo Switch

| Ubisoft Milan

| {{centered|{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/mario-rabbids-sparks-hope-revealed-2022-release/ |title=Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Revealed for 2022 Release |last=Behan |first=Daire |date=June 12, 2021 |website=Game Rant |access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2023

| The Settlers: New Allies

| Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

| Ubisoft Düsseldorf

| {{centered|{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/21/ubisoft-announces-new-settlers-game |title=Ubisoft Announces New Settlers Game |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=August 21, 2018 |website=IGN |access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

| rowspan="2" | PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S

| Massive Entertainment

| {{centered|}}

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2024

| XDefiant

| Ubisoft San Francisco

| {{centered|{{cite web |url=https://egmnow.com/tom-clancys-xdefiant-is-new-f2p-class-based-shooter-from-ubisoft/ |title=Tom Clancy's XDefiant is new free-to-play, class-based shooter from Ubisoft |last=Goroff |first=Michael |date=July 19, 2021 |website=Electronic Gaming Monthly |access-date=July 4, 2024}}}}

Star Wars Outlaws

| rowspan="1" | PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2

| Massive Entertainment

| {{centered|}}

scope="row" {{n/a}}

| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

| {{n/a}}

| Ubisoft Toronto

| {{centered|}}

=Cancelled=

Tom Clancy's The Division Heartland{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/24157512/tom-clancys-division-heartland-canceled-ubisoft |title=Ubisoft cancels The Division Heartland, the latest AAA free-to-play game casualty |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=May 15, 2024 |website=Polygon |access-date=May 15, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-cancels-the-division-heartland |title=Ubisoft Cancels The Division Heartland |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=May 15, 2024 |website=IGN |access-date=May 15, 2024}}

References

Category:2016 software

Category:Ubisoft

Category:Video game engines