Katana Engine supports modern 3D features such as automatic LOD generation and fluid simulation.[1][2] It has a built in world environment system that automatically changes lighting based on the time of day and latitude and longitude and supports various weather conditions such as rain, sun, snow, etc.[2] The environment system can also be used to dictate the ambient sound.[3] The engine uses Percentage-Closer Soft Shadows along with a proprietary reflection probe system for its shadows.[2][4] It also includes a physically based material editor, as well as a procedural foliage placement system.[1] Aside from physically based parameters, materials contain other parameters that affect its appearance; for example, a material can be set to accept a parameter that allows it to become dusty depending on the local environment.[1] The engine supports PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.[5]
History
Development of Katana Engine began in the early 2000s as a collection of individual production tools.[1] Beginning in the 2010s, it started to develop into a full featured engine, and has since grown in usage internally.[1]
According to director Ryota Matsushita, the engine is updated with new features for each new game that uses it.[6] For example, 2D shading of 3D characters was improved for the release of Fate/Samurai Remnant.[6]
According to Yasunori Sakuda, producer of Venus Vacation Prism: Dead or Alive Xtreme, Katana Engine will replace the engine used in previous games in the series due to features such as its superior environment system; according to Sakuda, developers were not able to implement rain in Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation due to constraints of the engine.[7]
Games
This list only includes game that have been confirmed to use Katana Engine.
