Cobra (game engine)
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Developer(s) | Frontier Developments |
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Initial release | 1988 |
Stable release | 4th generation (2023)
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Platform | Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo DS, Wii, Gamecube |
License | Proprietary |
Website | www |
Cobra is a cross-platform, 3D game engine by Frontier Developments. Various iterations of Cobra have been developed in-house since 1988.[1][2] It consists of industry standard packages, in-house Cobra tools and technology.[1]
Cobra uses C++ as the programming language.[3] The development tools are created with C# / WPF / Forms and C++.[3] Lua is used for gameplay features.[3]
Cobra supports many platforms such as Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android devices.[1]
Frontier Developments generally uses their own Cobra engine for games rather than off-the-shelf engines. This means their development teams have more programmers than usual.[3] A typical dev team of Frontier has around 25 programmer and 55 other developers.[3] In 2024, Frontier had over 800 employees including the subsidiary Complex Games in Canada who work with the proprietary Cobra technology.[4]
Many of Frontier's games use the same underlying Cobra engine such as Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, Kinectimals, Elite Dangerous and Planet Coaster.[5] Planet Coaster 2 uses the 4th generation of the Cobra cross-platform technology.[1] They create the tools and run-time technology in-house.[3] Frontier's games have unique tech such as the cats in Kinectimals, destructible environments in Screamride, the planets in Elite Dangerous, and world building in Planet Coaster.[3]
Games using Cobra engine
[edit]Licensing
[edit]The Cobra engine is currently unavailable for licensing. It's used exclusively for games by Frontier Developments.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Cobra Development Technologies & Tools". Frontier. 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Frontier on bringing scientific authenticity to games and why the studio still uses its own engine". MCV. 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Programmer Application Guidance". Frontier. 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ Quested, Briony (2 August 2024). "Frontier Developments". BusinessWeekly. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b Hutchinson, Lee (17 June 2015). "Elite: Dangerous developers talk to Ars about Planet Coaster". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2024.