Crytek has announced a major update to CryEngine which now includes Linux support for the first time.

Among the highlights of the update are:

Physically Based Shading – In contrast to traditional observational based shading seen in most real-time game engines, CRYENGINE’s brand new Physically Based Shading model simulates the interaction between light and materials using real world physics.

Geometry Cache – Leveraging the power of today’s new hardware, CRYENGINE computes efficient, cache-based animations to realize the most complex simulations (cloth, explosions, fluid dynamics) normally only possible in offline rendering.

Character Technology – The CRYENGINE update unites the most scalable, technically-advanced animation and rendering systems to deliver astonishingly realistic characters for games in real-time. Lifelike iris parallax mapping allows for a truly realistic eye representation, while new unified shaders for character shadows and hair add to the possibilities.

Image Based Lighting – Image Based Lighting brings lighting and render consistency to all materials. CRYENGINE’s shading model uses advanced BRDF values and normalization of specular highlights to render even the most complex lighting situations.

CRYENGINE licensees will have access to all of the latest features brought about by the update later this month.