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Tell us about your company.
Crytek has been creating games and game technology for 17 years, and at the heart of everything we do is a desire to produce – and power – the most innovative experiences possible.
Over the years, we’ve been flattered to see our CryEngine technology become known as one of the most powerful engines on the market, and as well as using it to produce own games, we’ve seen other devs of all sizes put its power to good use.
Our own back-catalogue of games includes the original Far Cry, the Crysis series, Ryse: Son of Rome and Warface. This year, we released our first VR-only game, The Climb, and have another new VR title, Robinson: The Journey, on the way.
We keep fun at the forefront of everything we do, and are definitely comfortable with our reputation of being on the cutting edge of game tech. We always want to push the boundaries of what can be achieved.
What differentiates you from similar outfits?
It’s very unusual for an independent, mid-sized developer like Crytek to produce not only games, but also an engine which is licensed out to others. So that’s definitely a differentiator, and we’ve been able to achieve much of what we have because of the process of creating new games and new technology in tandem.
That combination is still proving very beneficial with our move into VR gaming – as is the enormous amount we’ve learned over the years from working with other CryEngine users around the world.
What excites you about the games industry and games development today?
The lowering of entry barriers on so many fronts has transformed the industry.
The comparative ease of developing for mobile, the wealth of publishing options, crowdfunding, and free access to technologies like CryEngine has unleashed so much indie talent. That tide won’t be turned back now, and game development is going from strength to strength because of these changes.
We’re very actively involved with indie devs who use CryEngine, and to see what they can do with tight budgets and small teams is amazing. The playing field has never been more level, and that’s really exciting.
What do you think the line-up of this year’s Develop Awards finalists says about the industry today?
I think it really just underscores that level of diversity. Not only in terms of who can make games now, but also the appetite from gamers for more innovative experiences across more platforms than ever.
A game like Everybody’s Gone to The Rapture – which was created with CryEngine – highlights the possibilities of our medium today and how it’s evolving in different directions.
The sheer volume of quality nominees and closely-fought categories also says a lot about how healthy and competitive the industry has become. It’s a landscape that was almost unthinkable even five years ago when you consider how recent the advent of consumer-ready VR really is. It’s exciting now. And the future is bright.
Do you have a message for the finalists?
Keep up the good work! Although the games industry is global and constantly growing, it’s also very close-knit and we’re all in it together. So we wish everyone the very best of luck.
Ultimately, the success of one game, developer, or technology has a healthy knock-on effect for everyone, so let’s keep pushing things forward.
Anything you’d like to add?
Just to say thank you for the nomination! The Develop Awards are a significant part of the industry’s calendar, and we’re happy to be a part of the occasion.
About the Develop Awards
This year’s Develop Awards take place on Wednesday, July 13th at the Brighton Hilton Metropole, and honour the best in games development talent from across the UK and Europe.
You can find a full list of this year’s finalists here.
The awards are supported by headline partner CV Bay, with gold partners MoGi Group, Amiqus, Epic Games, Sumo Digital, Crytek, Perforce, Games London, UKIE, and King. OPM returns as table gift partner, alongside exclusive drinks reception partner Keywords Studios, table drink and gold partner Nordeus, and event partner Develop: Brighton. Epic Games are also an award partner, as are Aardvark Swift. Unity is award and opening video partner.
Contact Charlotte Nangle via cnangle@nbmedia.com to find out about the opportunities available, both at the event and in editorial coverage before, during and after the Awards.
To book your place at the event, email Georgia Blake via gblake@nbmedia.com – or book online at www.developawards.com.
