Crytek

Crytek is a German video game development studio founded in 1999 by brothers Cevat, Avni and Faruk Yerli. The company is best known for its technologically advanced action games and its proprietary game engine, CryEngine, which has been used in various forms not only in Crytek’s own games but also by other developers.

The studio’s first major success was Far Cry, released in 2004 for PC by Ubisoft. This first-person shooter captivated players with its vast tropical locations, long line of sight, advanced graphics and the ability to tackle combat in a variety of ways. Following the release of the first game, the Far Cry franchise was taken over by Ubisoft, whilst Crytek began work on a new series of its own.

This turned out to be Crysis, which in 2007 significantly pushed the boundaries of computer graphics at the time. The protagonist uses a futuristic Nanosuit, which provides enhanced strength, speed, protection and the ability to become invisible. The game combines more open environments, shooting, vehicles and the option to choose different tactical approaches.

The first instalment was followed by Crysis Warhead, Crysis 2 and Crysis 3. Whilst the original game was set predominantly on a tropical island, the sequels shifted the battle against the alien threat to the urban setting of New York.

One of Crytek’s major console projects is Ryse: Son of Rome, which was originally released in 2013 as one of the launch titles for the Xbox One. The game transports players to a stylised setting in ancient Rome and follows the story of the Roman soldier Marius Titus.

Ryse is built around third-person combat, the use of sword and shield, and cinematic battles. Upon its release, the game also served as a technological showcase for the capabilities of the new generation of Xbox, particularly thanks to its detailed characters, animations and expansive scenes.

Crytek is also behind the multiplayer action game Hunt: Showdown, which combines the hunt for supernatural monsters with combat against other players. The game is set in the dark atmosphere of the late 19th century and places great emphasis on tension, sound, tracking, and the risk of the hunter being killed.

An important part of the company’s history is its proprietary CryEngine technology. Successive generations of the engine have powered games such as Far Cry, Crysis, Ryse and other projects, and CryEngine has also been licensed to external studios.

In the past, Crytek operated several branches around the world and worked on other games, including, for example, Warface and the VR projects The Climb and Robinson: The Journey.

Thanks to games such as Far Cry, Crysis, Ryse: Son of Rome and Hunt: Showdown, Crytek ranks among Europe’s most technologically advanced game studios. Its history is closely linked, above all, to the development of first-person shooters (FPS), realistic graphics and the constant pushing of the boundaries of its proprietary CryEngine.