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{{Infobox Software

| name = Infinity Engine

| logo =

| screenshot = File:Planescape start-room.jpg

| caption = Screenshot of ''[[Planescape: Torment]]'' demonstrating the [[user interface]] and 2D [[isometric graphics]] representative of games using the Infinity Engine

| caption = The Mortuary room in which the game ''Planescape: Torment'' opens.

| developer = [[BioWare]]

| released = 1998

| latest_release_version =

| latest_release_date =

| latest_preview_version =

| latest_preview_date =

| programming language = [[C++]], [[Lua]]

| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS]], [[Mac OS X]], [[AmigaOS 4]], [[GNU/Linux]]

| operating_system = '''Original editions:''' [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]], [[macOS|OS X]]<br />'''Enhanced Editions:''' [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[macOS]], [[Linux]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]], [[PlayStation 4|PS4]], [[Xbox One|XB1]]<br />'''GemRB:''' [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[macOS]], [[Linux]] (release builds; many more OSs via community builds)

| genre = [[Game engine]]

| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]

| website = http[https://wwwgemrb.biowareorg/ gemrb.comorg] (open-source recreation)

}}

The '''Infinity Engine''' is a [[game engine]] which allows the creation of [[Isometric projection|isometric]] [[role-playing video gamegames]]s adapting the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' ruleset. It was originally developed by [[BioWare]] for a prototype [[Realreal-time strategy|RTS]] game codenamed ''Battleground: Infinity'', which was ultimately re-engineered to become the first installment of the1998's ''[[Baldur's Gate (seriesvideo game)|''Baldur's Gate]]'' series]]. BioWare used it again in the[[Baldur's Gate|subsequent installments]] of the series, butand also licensed the engine to [[Interplay Entertainment|Interplay]]'s [[Black Isle Studios]] to create the ''[[Icewind Dale]]'' series and ''[[Planescape: Torment]]''. The engine would serve as the cancelled ''Battleground: Infinity's'' [[namesake]].<ref>{{cite book|title=BioWare: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]|___location=United States|year=2020|isbn=9781506718804|page=27|quote=Baldur's Gate was the first game re-leased using BioWare's Infinity engine, named for Baldur's Gate's predecessor: the unreleased Battleground: Infinity. BioWare also used the Infinity engine for Baldur's Gate II... and... licensed it for other isometric Western RPG classics.|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/BioWare_Stories_and_Secrets_from_25_Year/88PiDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812010310/https://www.google.com/books/edition/BioWare_Stories_and_Secrets_from_25_Year/88PiDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0|archive-date=12 August 2025}}</ref><!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator -->

==History==

Since 2005 there is a open source version of the game engine, called GemRB, which is a multiplatform implementation of this engine.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2016-10-14 |title=gemrb/gemrb |url=https://github.com/gemrb/gemrb |website=GitHub}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

AThe naturalInfinity evolutionEngine ofwas conceived by BioWare as the Infinityfoundation Enginefor wasthe [[Aurorareal-time Enginestrategy game]], thatthen-titled was''Battleground usedInfinity'', bywhich [[Neverwintereventually Nights]]evolved cRPGinto gamethe byfirst ''Baldur's Gate'', a [[BioWare]]computer inrole-playing 2002game]].<ref name=Aur1Inf0>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |language=en |title=AuroraInfinity Engine |url=httpshttp://www.giantbombmoddb.com/auroraengines/infinity-engine/3015-1468/}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

==Characteristics==

InfinityThe Enginegraphical engine was conceivedspecifically byoptimized [[BioWare]]for ascomputer arole-playing basegames. ofIt theirrelies complexon [[demo]]unified calledhuge then ''Battleground Infinity'', which later in its final form became a gamepre-rendered [[Baldur's2D Gatecomputer graphics|2D]].<ref name=Inf0>{{citescrolling web|access-date=2025-08-03backgrounds, |language=enwith |title=Infinityboth Enginecharacters |url=http://www.moddb.com/engines/infinity-engine}}<!--and auto-translatedobjects from Polishrepresented by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The graphical engine is an [[API]]Sprite written(computer in [[OpenGLgraphics)|sprites]].<ref name=Inf0/> and was created specially for [[cRPGOpenGL]] gamesacceleration -for inenhanced truth,effects itwas isadded based on isometrics pre-rendered graphicswith ''[[2DBaldur's computerGate graphics|2D]] and both [[PC|PCs]] and [[NPC|NPCs]] use [[sprite|spritesII]]''.<ref name=Inf0/><ref name=Inf1>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |language=en |title=Infinity Engine |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/infinity-engine/3015-495/}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>.

In December 2002, afterfollowing publishingthe arelease gameof [[Baldur's Gate 2]]'BG2'', [[Ray Muzyka]] decidedannounced thata therehigh-resolution would be a [[patch]] published for BioWare's games of [[Bioware]],that soenabled the Infinity Engine couldto work insupport resolutions biggerhigher than 800 x 600800×600 pixels.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2002-12-13 |language=it |title=Bioware, una patch alta risoluzione per i suoi RPG |url=http://multiplayer.it/notizie/bioware-una-patch-alta-risoluzione-per-i-suoi-rpg.html |website=multiplayer.it}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The last computeroriginal game usingto use the Infinity Engine was ''[[Icewind Dale 2II]]'', fromreleased 2002<ref>{{citein web|access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2002-09-06 |language=en |title=Icewind Dale II Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/icewind-dale-ii-review/1900-2879594/}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>; it was not untill 2016, afterunique 17for years since publication ofadapting the oryginalnewer game,[[Editions itof wasDungeons developed& aDragons|''D&D [[expansion]]3e'' [[Siegeinstead of Dragonspear]] for [[Baldur's Gate'2e'']] using the same graphical engine.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |date=20162002-0409-1406 |language=en |title=Baldur'sIcewind Gate:Dale Enhanced EditionII Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldursicewind-gatedale-siegeii-of-dragonspearreview/1900-64164082879594/}}<!-- auto-translated|website=Gamespot.com from|author=Greg Polish by Module:CS1 translator -->Kasavin}}</ref>

The [[Aurora Engine]] is regarded as the [[spiritual successor]] to the Infinity Engine. BioWare would use it to create ''Neverwinter Nights'' (2002) and its expansions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aurora Engine|publisher=[[Giant Bomb]]|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/aurora-engine/3015-1468/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504234921/https://www.giantbomb.com/aurora-engine/3015-1468/|archive-date=4 May 2025|access-date=29 July 2025|quote=The spiritual successor to the Infinity Engine. This 3D engine made its appearance in the Neverwinter Nights series, and provided a toolset along with multiplayer where players could be Dungeon Masters and make their own stories and play them out with friends.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shields|first=Jo|title=The new night|url=http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=411|publisher=HEXUS.net|date=27 August 2002|access-date=19 May 2009|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924170819/https://www.hexus.net/gaming/reviews/pc/411-neverwinter-night-pc/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Polish studio [[CD Projekt Red]] also employed the Aurora Engine to develop ''The Witcher'', the 2007 video game adaptation of the Polish fantasy novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski, although the rendering module was rewritten from scratch.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Bayer|first1=Thilo|last2=Reuther|first2=Philipp|date=2022-10-27|title=15 Jahre The Witcher 1: CD Projekt Reds erster Streich im Retro-Rückblick [Hinweis]|url=https://www.pcgameshardware.de/The-Witcher-Spiel-38484/Specials/Rueckblick-15-Jahre-1406048/|access-date=2022-12-30|website=PC Games Hardware|language=de|archive-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230223935/https://www.pcgameshardware.de/The-Witcher-Spiel-38484/Specials/Rueckblick-15-Jahre-1406048/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A natural evolution of the Infinity Engine was [[Aurora Engine]] that was used by [[Neverwinter Nights]] cRPG game by [[BioWare]] in 2002.<ref name=Aur1>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |language=en |title=Aurora Engine |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/aurora-engine/3015-1468/}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

Players independently wrote GemRB, a [[game engine recreation]] of Infinity that is [[open source]] and [[multiplatform]]. After development started in 2000, it first achieved completability of a game (''BG2'') in 2009, and of all games by 2024.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-18 |title=History of the engines and games - GemRB homepage |url=http://gemrb.org/History.html}}</ref>

From 2012 to 2017, Infinity was modernized for [[remaster]]s by [[Beamdog]] of all games (except ''IWD2'', due to the [[lost media|loss of]] its [[source code]]),<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-24 |date=2017-07-06 |language=en |title=Real Talk - Icewind Dale II, Enhanced Edition Patch Progress, and a Beamdog Client Update - The Beamblog |url=http://blog.beamdog.com/2017/07/real-talk-icewind-dale-ii-enhanced.html}}</ref> as well as for a new [[expansion pack|expansion]] to ''BG1'', ''[[Siege of Dragonspear]]''.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2016-04-14 |language=en |title=Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear/1900-6416408/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |author=Brett Todd}}</ref>

== List of games using Infinity Engine ==

The following games and expansions are powered by the Infinity Engine:

* ''[[Baldur’s Gate]]'' (1998)

** ''[[Baldur’sBaldur's Gate: Tales(video ofgame)|Baldur's the Sword CoastGate]]'' (19991998)

** ''[[Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast]]'' (1999)

* ''[[Planescape: Torment]]'' (1999)

* ''[[Icewind Dale]]'' (2000)

** ''[[Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter]]'' (2001)

** ''[[Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter#Trials of the Luremaster|Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter: Trials of the Luremaster]]'' (2001)

* ''[[Baldur’sBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn]]'' (2000)

** ''[[Baldur’sBaldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal]]'' (2001)

* ''[[Icewind Dale II]]'' (2002)

* ''[[Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2012)

** ''[[Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition - Siege of Dragonspear|Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition: Siege of Dragonspear]]'' (2016)

* ''[[Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2013)

* ''[[Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2014)

* ''[[Planescape: Torment#Enhanced Edition|Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2017)

== See also ==

* [[Odyssey Engine]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

{{BioWare}}

==External links==

* [https://gemrb.sourceforge.net/ GemRB] - Infinity Engine open-source implementation

* [http://www.bioware.com/ BioWare] official website

* [httphttps://iesdpgibberlings3.infogithub.io/iesdp/ Infinity Engine Structures Description Project]

* [httphttps://www.uvlistmobygames.netcom/groupsgroup/info3948/game-engine-infinity-engine/infinityengine Infinity Engine] full gamesat list[[MobyGames]]

* [http://gemrbwww.sourceforgeuvlist.net/groups/info/infinityengine Infinity Engine] cloneat GemRB]Universal Videogame List

{{BioWare}}

{{Video game engines |state=autocollapse}}

{{D&D topics}}

[[Category:1998 software]]

[[Category:AmigaOS 4 games]]

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[[Category:Infinity Engine games| ]]

[[Category:Lua-scriptable game engines]]

[[Category:Video game engines]]