https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Infinity_EngineInfinity Engine - Revision history2026-04-18T01:41:37ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Infinity_Engine&diff=472821&oldid=previmported>MWFwiki: /* History */ wikilinking2025-09-05T19:53:42Z<p><span class="autocomment">History: </span> wikilinking</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Video game software framework}}<br />
{{Infobox Software<br />
| name = Infinity Engine<br />
| logo =<br />
| screenshot = File:Planescape start-room.jpg<br />
| caption = Screenshot of ''[[Planescape: Torment]]'' demonstrating the [[user interface]] and 2D [[isometric graphics]] representative of games using the Infinity Engine<br />
| developer = [[BioWare]]<br />
| released = 1998<br />
| latest_release_version =<br />
| latest_release_date =<br />
| latest_preview_version =<br />
| latest_preview_date =<br />
| programming language = [[C++]], [[Lua]]<br />
| operating_system = '''Original editions:''' [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]], [[macOS|OS X]]<br />'''Enhanced Editions:''' [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[macOS]], [[Linux]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]], [[PlayStation 4|PS4]], [[Xbox One|XB1]]<br />'''GemRB:''' [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[macOS]], [[Linux]] (release builds; many more OSs via community builds)<br />
| genre = [[Game engine]]<br />
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]<br />
| website = [https://gemrb.org/ gemrb.org] (open-source recreation)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The '''Infinity Engine''' is a [[game engine]] which allows the creation of [[Isometric projection|isometric]] [[role-playing video games]] adapting the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' ruleset. It was originally developed by [[BioWare]] for a prototype [[real-time strategy]] game codenamed ''Battleground: Infinity'', which was ultimately re-engineered to become 1998's ''[[Baldur's Gate (video game)|Baldur's Gate]]''. BioWare used it again in [[Baldur's Gate|subsequent installments]] of the series and also licensed the engine to [[Interplay Entertainment|Interplay]]'s [[Black Isle Studios]] to create the ''[[Icewind Dale]]'' series and ''[[Planescape: Torment]]''. The engine would serve as the cancelled ''Battleground: Infinity's'' [[namesake]].<ref>{{cite book|title=BioWare: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]|location=United States|year=2020|isbn=9781506718804|page=27|quote=Baldur's Gate was the first game re-leased using BioWare's Infinity engine, named for Baldur's Gate's predecessor: the unreleased Battleground: Infinity. BioWare also used the Infinity engine for Baldur's Gate II... and... licensed it for other isometric Western RPG classics.|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/BioWare_Stories_and_Secrets_from_25_Year/88PiDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812010310/https://www.google.com/books/edition/BioWare_Stories_and_Secrets_from_25_Year/88PiDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0|archive-date=12 August 2025}}</ref><!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
<br />
The Infinity Engine was conceived by BioWare as the foundation for a [[real-time strategy game]], then-titled ''Battleground: Infinity'', which eventually evolved into the first ''Baldur's Gate'', a [[computer role-playing game]].<ref name=Inf0>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |language=en |title=Infinity Engine |url=http://www.moddb.com/engines/infinity-engine}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><br />
<br />
The graphical engine was specifically optimized for computer role-playing games. It relies on unified huge pre-rendered [[2D computer graphics|2D]] scrolling backgrounds, with both characters and objects represented by [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]]. [[OpenGL]] acceleration for enhanced effects was added with ''[[Baldur's Gate II]]''.<ref name=Inf0/><ref name=Inf1>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |language=en |title=Infinity Engine |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/infinity-engine/3015-495/}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><br />
<br />
In December 2002, following the release of ''BG2'', Ray Muzyka announced a high-resolution patch for BioWare's games that enabled the Infinity Engine to support resolutions higher than 800×600 pixels.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2002-12-13 |language=it |title=Bioware, una patch alta risoluzione per i suoi RPG |url=http://multiplayer.it/notizie/bioware-una-patch-alta-risoluzione-per-i-suoi-rpg.html |website=multiplayer.it}}</ref> The last original game to use the Infinity Engine was ''[[Icewind Dale II]]'', released in 2002, unique for adapting the newer [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons|''D&D 3e'' instead of ''2e'']].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2002-09-06 |language=en |title=Icewind Dale II Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/icewind-dale-ii-review/1900-2879594/ |website=Gamespot.com |author=Greg Kasavin}}</ref><br />
<br />
The [[Aurora Engine]] is regarded as the [[spiritual successor]] to the Infinity Engine. BioWare would use it to create ''Neverwinter Nights'' (2002) and its expansions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aurora Engine|publisher=[[Giant Bomb]]|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/aurora-engine/3015-1468/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504234921/https://www.giantbomb.com/aurora-engine/3015-1468/|archive-date=4 May 2025|access-date=29 July 2025|quote=The spiritual successor to the Infinity Engine. This 3D engine made its appearance in the Neverwinter Nights series, and provided a toolset along with multiplayer where players could be Dungeon Masters and make their own stories and play them out with friends.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shields|first=Jo|title=The new night|url=http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=411|publisher=HEXUS.net|date=27 August 2002|access-date=19 May 2009|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924170819/https://www.hexus.net/gaming/reviews/pc/411-neverwinter-night-pc/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Polish studio [[CD Projekt Red]] also employed the Aurora Engine to develop ''[[The Witcher (video game)|The Witcher]]'', the 2007 video game adaptation of [[The Witcher|the Polish novel series]] by [[Andrzej Sapkowski]], although the rendering module was rewritten from scratch.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Bayer|first1=Thilo|last2=Reuther|first2=Philipp|date=2022-10-27|title=15 Jahre The Witcher 1: CD Projekt Reds erster Streich im Retro-Rückblick [Hinweis]|url=https://www.pcgameshardware.de/The-Witcher-Spiel-38484/Specials/Rueckblick-15-Jahre-1406048/|access-date=2022-12-30|website=PC Games Hardware|language=de|archive-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230223935/https://www.pcgameshardware.de/The-Witcher-Spiel-38484/Specials/Rueckblick-15-Jahre-1406048/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
<br />
Players independently wrote GemRB, a [[game engine recreation]] of Infinity that is [[open source]] and [[multiplatform]]. After development started in 2000, it first achieved completability of a game (''BG2'') in 2009, and of all games by 2024.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-18 |title=History of the engines and games - GemRB homepage |url=http://gemrb.org/History.html}}</ref><br />
<br />
From 2012 to 2017, Infinity was modernized for [[remaster]]s by [[Beamdog]] of all games (except ''IWD2'', due to the [[lost media|loss of]] its [[source code]]),<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-24 |date=2017-07-06 |language=en |title=Real Talk - Icewind Dale II, Enhanced Edition Patch Progress, and a Beamdog Client Update - The Beamblog |url=http://blog.beamdog.com/2017/07/real-talk-icewind-dale-ii-enhanced.html}}</ref> as well as for a new [[expansion pack|expansion]] to ''BG1'', ''[[Siege of Dragonspear]]''.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2016-04-14 |language=en |title=Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear/1900-6416408/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |author=Brett Todd}}</ref><br />
<br />
== List of games using Infinity Engine ==<br />
The following games and expansions are powered by the Infinity Engine:<br />
* ''[[Baldur's Gate (video game)|Baldur's Gate]]'' (1998)<br />
** ''[[Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast]]'' (1999)<br />
* ''[[Planescape: Torment]]'' (1999)<br />
* ''[[Icewind Dale]]'' (2000)<br />
** ''[[Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter]]'' (2001)<br />
** ''[[Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter#Trials of the Luremaster|Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter: Trials of the Luremaster]]'' (2001)<br />
* ''[[Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn]]'' (2000)<br />
** ''[[Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal]]'' (2001)<br />
* ''[[Icewind Dale II]]'' (2002)<br />
* ''[[Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2012)<br />
** ''[[Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition - Siege of Dragonspear|Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition: Siege of Dragonspear]]'' (2016)<br />
* ''[[Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2013)<br />
* ''[[Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2014)<br />
* ''[[Planescape: Torment#Enhanced Edition|Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2017)<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Odyssey Engine]]<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [https://gemrb.sourceforge.net/ GemRB] - Infinity Engine open-source implementation<br />
* [https://gibberlings3.github.io/iesdp/ Infinity Engine Structures Description Project]<br />
* [https://www.mobygames.com/group/3948/game-engine-infinity-engine/ Infinity Engine] at [[MobyGames]]<br />
* [http://www.uvlist.net/groups/info/infinityengine Infinity Engine] at Universal Videogame List<br />
<br />
{{BioWare}}<br />
{{Video game engines}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1998 software]]<br />
[[Category:BioWare]]<br />
[[Category:Infinity Engine games| ]]<br />
[[Category:Video game engines]]</div>imported>MWFwiki