Crytek is ready to take GDC by storm as they have announced that they will be showing off some of their news games and engine capabilities at the event. CRYENGINE, which is currently in its third iteration with a fourth on the way, has been announced to feature Linux support. This news is big as it carries a whole lot of implications that Linux is beginning to establish itself as an OS with gaming capabilities.
The CRYENGINE adding full support for the Linux OS means that another powerful studio and engine will be supporting the open source operating system. Valve's SteamOS is Linux-based, so Crytek's announcement opens the possibility of seeing Crytek and CRYENGINE-powered games make the leap from Windows to Linux.
With the impending release of Valve's Steam Machines, a studio as large as Crytek issuing support for Linux means good things for Valve's plans for a Linux-based gaming environment. Managing director and Internet God Gabe Newell has said that Linux is "the future of gaming" and that gaming on an open platform is beneficial to the industry. Gabe has criticized Windows in the past, going so far as calling Windows 8 a "catastrophe".
Along with Linux support, Crytek has revealed that their engine has been updated to include features used in Ryse: Son of Rome by way of a new Physically Based Shading render pipeline. I won't pretend that I'm that tech savy, but yay? Graphics!
The developer behind such titles as the original Far Cry, Crysis, and Ryse will also be showing off a new version of the free-to-play shooter Warface at the event. A new mobile game called The Collectables has also been announced to make an appearance.
The GDC expo begins on March 19 in San Francisco and ends on March 21.
