Fusion Engine
| Developer(s) | Hangar 13 |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2016 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| Predecessor | Illusion Engine |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | hangar13games |
The Fusion Engine is a proprietary game engine developed by Hangar 13, first introduced with the 2016 video game Mafia III.[1] It succeeded the Illusion Engine, originally created by 2K Czech for Mafia II (2010).[2]
The engine was designed to support modern cross-platform development and includes upgraded rendering capabilities, physics systems, and support for middleware. It was later used in the remake Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020), delivering enhanced visuals and performance.[3]
History
[edit]Illusion Engine
[edit]| Developer(s) | 2K Czech |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2010 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
| Predecessor | LS3D Engine |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | hangar13games |
The Illusion Engine was developed by 2K Czech (formerly Illusion Softworks) as a successor to the LS3D engine, which powered the original Mafia (2002). The engine debuted with Mafia II in 2010 and brought several technical improvements, including procedural animation blending, PhysX-based physics simulation, destructible environments, and seamless transitions between interiors and exteriors.[4]
In 2020, Mafia II: Definitive Edition was released with upscaled textures and compatibility enhancements for modern systems, using an updated version of the Illusion Engine.[5]
Games using the Illusion Engine
[edit]| Game Title | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mafia II | 2K Czech | 2K Games | 2010 |
| Mafia II: Definitive Edition | 2K Czech, D3T, Hangar 13, General Arcade | 2K Games | 2020 |
Fusion Engine
[edit]After 2K Czech was reorganized into Hangar 13, the Illusion Engine was heavily reworked into the Fusion Engine to meet modern development needs. This new engine premiered in Mafia III (2016), supporting full open world streaming, real-time lighting, improved rendering and animation pipelines, and greater cross-platform flexibility.[6]
Technologically, the Fusion Engine replaced NVIDIA PhysX with Havok Physics, adopted Wwise for audio, used Bink Video for cutscenes, and integrated various middleware solutions including FaceFX for facial animation and Scaleform for UI rendering. These upgrades enabled better scalability and more cinematic experiences.
Games using the Fusion Engine
[edit]| Game Title | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mafia III | Hangar 13 | 2K Games | 2016 |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | Hangar 13 | 2K Games | 2020 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Makuch, Eddie (2015-12-09). "Mafia 3 Engine Built From the Ground Up". GameSpot. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ O'Connor, Alice (2015-12-10). "2K Czech's Mafia II Engine to Be Replaced by New Tech in Mafia III". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ "Mafia: Definitive Edition Review". IGN. 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke (2010-09-06). "Inside Mafia II's Stunning City Engine". Kotaku. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ Chalk, Andy (2020-05-21). "Mafia II: Definitive Edition Performance Review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ Whiting, Mark (2016-10-11). "How Hangar 13 Built the World of Mafia III". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2025-05-11.