At first glance, the answer seems simple – no, ID Tech 7 is not free or open source software. But behind that straightforward response lies a richer, more nuanced backstory intertwined with the origins of the first-person shooter genre itself.
The genesis of ID Tech
To unpack whether ID Tech 7 is free, we first need to step back and understand the engine‘s heritage. ID Tech grew out of game developer id Software‘s pioneering work crafting revolutionary first-person shooters in the 1990s like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake.
Powering these genre-defining titles required bleeding edge, custom-built technology. id Software‘s John Carmack, lead programmer and co-founder, became obsessed with pushing the limits of home computer 3D graphics and performance.
Each new first-person shooter built on id Software‘s in-house tech, adding capabilities and refinements. By the late 1990s, licensing this game engine technology to other developers became a significant side business.
Thus, "ID Tech" was born – an iconic game engine lineage that fueled both id Software‘s own games and titles from other studios for 25+ years and counting.
ID Tech evolution timeline
| Year | Engine | NOTABLE GAMES |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | ID Tech 1 | Doom, Doom II |
| 1996 | ID Tech 2 | Quake, Hexen II |
| 1999 | ID Tech 3 | Quake III Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein |
| 2004 | ID Tech 4 | Doom 3, Quake 4 |
| 2011 | ID Tech 5 | Rage, The Evil Within |
| 2016 | ID Tech 6 | Doom (2016) |
| TBD | ID Tech 7 | Doom Eternal |
The leap to ID Tech 7
New rendering features introduced in ID Tech 7 include:
- Hybrid spatial and temporal anti-aliasing for smooth edges
- Physically based material shading for realistic materials
- Async compute to maximize GPU utilization
- Vulkan API support for reduced overhead vs OpenGL
| Rendering Feature | ID Tech 6 | ID Tech 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Peak light count | 512 | Unlimited |
| Max texture size | 2048×2048 | 16384×16384 |
| Ray traced audio | No | Yes |
This generational leap in graphics and performance pushed id Tech firmly back into the AAA gaming sphere after mixed reception for ID Tech 5 and 6.
What the critics are saying about ID Tech 7
"Id Software made the right call rebuilding its iconic tech from scratch. The result is an absolute beast." – IGN
"Easily the most impressive graphics and performance I‘ve ever seen in a shooter. ID Tech 7 is a showstopper." – PC Gamer
"A revitalized id Tech that lives up to its legacy as the gold standard for first-person graphical fidelity and smoothness." – Game Informer
Beyond the first-person shooter
While most renowned for powering first-person shooter franchises, ID Tech engines have been used for a diverse array of game genres over the years. These include:
- Real-time strategy – Star Trek: Armada II
- MMORPGs – Anarchy Online
- Racing – Test Drive
- Third-person action – Darkwatch
On the non-gaming front, ID Tech has even served as the foundation for military combat simulations, medical imaging applications, and CAD software. This flexibility stems from its highly customizable, underlying framework.
To open source or not to open source?
Historically ID Tech engine source code was closely guarded with only object code distributed to licensees. But starting with ID Tech 3 in the early 2000s, id Software began releasing engine source under the GPL open source license several years post-launch.
id Software founder John Carmack was an early open source advocate. He had grown frustrated though with limitations imposed by community-driven development like Linux.
“Supporting the open source model…just ends up burning cycles that are better spent on supporting customers.” – John Carmack
Carmack ultimately determined that releasing source code after initial profitability had been achieved struck the right balance for id Software‘s interests.
Though the wait frustrates open source purists, id Software still views some period of proprietary advantage as optimal for recouping heavy R&D investments. Only time will tell if this philosophy persists into the ID Tech 7 era.
The magic of modding
A major side benefit of open sourcing older ID Tech generations has been enabling unofficial modding communities to sprout up.
Diehard enthusiasts have built countless mods, textures, and gameplay overhauls by tinkering directly with ID Tech source code. This promotes technology sharing and educational opportunities in the gaming community.
While ID Tech 7 mod support remains limited currently, its predecessors live on through continued mods and customizations. The id Tech 3 based Quake III Arena, originally launched in 1999, still maintains an active competitive scene.
The proprietary advantage
Despite open source hopes, id Software justifies maintaining ID Tech 7 as strictly proprietary and closed for now. What are the business advantages of this approach versus releasing code publicly?
Competitive differentiation – Keeping the latest rendering techniques and optimizations confidential makes it harder for competitors to replicate capabilities.
Quality control – Changes can‘t be merged without id Software‘s careful code review and integration testing. This prevents instability or performance regressions from reaching end users.
License revenue – As evidenced by the many external game projects powered by ID Tech, licensing fees are an important monetization stream. Making source code freely available could jeopardize this income.
Rapid innovation – With a smaller group of internal developers, new engine features can be developed, tested, and integrated quickly into the main code base. Open source projects often suffer from scattered contributions and bureaucratic decision processes.
IP protection – Releasing source publicly can surrender some degree of intellectual property rights depending on the open source license used. Keeping ID Tech proprietary better protects id Software‘s IP.
The best of both worlds?
Rather than taking an ideological position on either extreme of fully open or closed source, there may be a middle path that brings together the strengths of both models while minimizing downsides.
Here is one hybrid possibility if id Software sought to make ID Tech 7 more accessible while preserving some proprietary protections:
Initially launch as fully closed source to recoup R&D investment
After 2-3 years, release read-only source access so fans can inspect inner workings
Add modding support earlier in the lifecycle
Charge a reasonable license fee for developers wanting full source code access and rights
Participate in establishing an open industry standard around some shared components while protecting key differentiating IP
This could enable id Software to tap into open source mindshare while still monetizing their core technology assets.
The future of ID Tech
Given the secretive nature of id Software‘s practices, outsiders can only speculate what lies in store for ID Tech 7 and beyond. If history is any guide, some level of eventual source access seems likely.
Hardcore fans will continue to debate and advocate passionately on all sides of the open vs closed discussion. But ultimately id Software will forge ahead guided by their own unique values.
For now, ID Tech 7 stands as a remarkable achievement continuing the series‘ legacy of pushing graphics technology to the bleeding edge. Though not free or open in the traditional sense, id Software‘s visionary execution on ID Tech 7 transcends these labels. The proof lies in the stunning visual showcases already demonstrated.
Where ID Tech goes from here remains shrouded in mystery. But no matter the path ultimately chosen, ID Tech‘s past and future contributions to games and simulation will be a gift to developers, gamers, and tech enthusiasts alike.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 1
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
Related
You May Like to Read,
- Do all witchers have yellow eyes? A deep dive into the mutations behind the monster hunters‘ signature looks
- Do I Need to Play All the Devil May Cry Games?
- Uncovering the Million Dollar Fortunes of the Pawn Stars Cast
- Will Berserk Ever Finish Now? An In-Depth Look at the Future of the Iconic Manga
- How Much is a PlayStation 3 Worth Today?
- How Much Money is 1,000 Twitch Subs Worth?
- Yes, Old Atari Games Can Be Extremely Valuable Today
- Is Ultra HD Netflix Worth It?
