• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides
  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

Stunning New Game Engine Turns Planet Into Virtual Playground

March 7, 2012 by Josh Harmon

It’s probably too early to be hoping for GTA: Earth, huh?

Sure, we all like our open-world games big, but how you'd like to explore a map that's a big bigger than what you're used to. How about a game world that's… oh, I don't know… the entire Earth? That might sound a bit crazy, but thanks to the new Outerra engine, it might be happening sooner than you think.

According to its creators, Outerra is a "planetary engine that can be used with elevation dataset with arbitrary resolution, while being progressively enhanced by parametrized fractal refinement algorithms." So, magic then.

All joking aside, Outerra is a remarkably impressive accomplishment, combining real world height-map data with procedurally generated detail at the ground level. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that the engine downloads the data on demand, as you play, meaning the client itself clocks in at a miniscule 200MB.

The Outerra team is also using the engine to build a game of their own. Anteworld, as they're calling it, is a city-building game set in an Earth that's been abandoned by humanity. At the moment, it's still in the very early alpha stages, but they've already implemented some promising gameplay mechanics, including driving, flying, and some basic construction elements. Future updates promise to bring some hefty new features, including with online multiplayer that allows everyone to collaborate on rebuilding the planet.

If you'd like to experience Outerra firsthand, you can download the newly released tech demo from the official website. You can putz around with the basics for free by clicking the small "Demo Mode" link in the lower righthand corner, but if you want to try out some of Anteworld's gameier features, you'll need to put up $15 for a pre-order. It's a bit pricey for what you get right now, but future updates should make it worthwhile, and it's always nice to support a talented dev team. 

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

BATTLEFIELD 6 FINALLY LISTENS, NEW GHOST RECON CONFIRMED & MORE

BATTLEFIELD 6 FINALLY LISTENS, NEW GHOST RECON CONFIRMED & MORE

20 Game Levels That Are LEGENDARY For A Reason

20 Game Levels That Are LEGENDARY For A Reason

This NEW Fallout Game Looks INSANE

This NEW Fallout Game Looks INSANE

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Before You Buy

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Before You Buy

Top 10 NEW Games of AUGUST 2025

Top 10 NEW Games of AUGUST 2025

20 Best ZOMBIE Games You Shouldn't Miss

20 Best ZOMBIE Games You Shouldn't Miss

10 Games That DESERVED Better

10 Games That DESERVED Better

10 WORST Games Where The Story ROCKS

10 WORST Games Where The Story ROCKS

CYBERPUNK 2077 PATCH 2.3 MAKES BIG CHANGES, FALLOUT 5 GREENLIT & MORE

CYBERPUNK 2077 PATCH 2.3 MAKES BIG CHANGES, FALLOUT 5 GREENLIT & MORE

Category: Updates

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Best Video Game Deals Available Right Now
  • Donkey Kong Bananza: All Banana Locations | The Divide SL400
  • Donkey Kong Bananza: Where To Find Rare Fossils | Canyon Layer
  • Roblox Introduces New Avatar Settings For Creators
  • Roblox CEO Talks Game’s True Origins, Microtransactions, and More

Copyright © 2025 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme