BioWare is seeking more economical graphics rendering by licensing Umbra Software’s optimisation software.

Umbra’s GPU-accelerated rendering optimization tools can speed up content creation for Xbox 360, PC and PS3 projects.

A key feature of the software tool, however, is in how it allows for occlusion culling – the process of removing data from unseen areas in games, thus providing the chance to pack more polygons on-camera.

God of War 2, a graphical triumph for the PS2’s modest GPU, owed much of its visual grunt to the process of occlusion culling.

EA-owned BioWare will use Umbra’s tools for development on the Mass Effect franchise, as well as the PC RPG Dragon Age Origins, and other future titles.

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Alan Wake developer Remedy announced back in June that it was using Umbra tech to speed up the development of its long-awaited title.