Breaking Down Remedy's Northlight Engine

At Remedy Entertainment, we have always been committed to using our own in-house technology, Northlight, to power most of our games.

We spoke with the people who work with Northlight every day, our developers and the people who make Remedy's games, on what working with in-house technology means for them, and how Northlight keeps evolving.

Northlight is a comprehensive game engine that, like every game engine, has a unique take on workflows and data pipelines. It has modern rendering technology, offers comprehensive solutions for most - if not all - areas of game development, and it can be used to make games for multiple console platforms and PC.

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[Visuwyg]

Really happy that Remedy is one of the few studios left maintaining their own proprietary tech. Keeping their demo roots alive. I really like the look of northlight. Especially Quantum Break with its cutting-edge lighting techniques where it felt like the hardware could barely keep up with the ambition of the Remedy artists. It had a grainy, fuzzy look at times, that made it feel very cinematic for some reason. It's hard to explain.

[hichamamroussi]

The game development experience leads the tech and not the opposite. Thank you Remedy!

[amilyester]

Remedy's always pushing the technical envelope. Thank you for being so good at what you guys do, and for not just jumping on the Unreal bandwagon.

[haarisajmeri]

We actually need these stuff so people get to know about game development

[TrojanGTA]

just imagining max Payne 1&2 in this engine, makes me so hyped.

[kylerclarke]

Control might still be the best RT implementation in any game. AND it's a brilliant game. I'm in awe of everyone's work over at Remedy

[nicholasdanger]

Absolutely remarkable tech. I didn't really understand how it works, but what I do understand is that it's flexible and powerful. I can't wait to see what this engine can do for Alan Wake 2.

[neals]

Fantastic video. In a time where so many teams are switching to UE5 its refreshing to see teams committed to using their own bespoke engine and tech

[lukky]

Remedy is one of the most ambitious studios that never fail to deliver on what they promise. Not a single game they've made can be considered bad by any means, each something unique to offer to the player and pioneers the genre foward. Their games look the best in the market and play the best too, nothing like them or close to them.

I am carefree about the Max Payne Remakes knowing it is in Remedy's hands and i can't wait to experience greatness once again

[NXGamer]

Remedy have always been a standout, the studio made 3Dmark really as they used their pioneering MaxPayne FX Engine to run that. I love the fact they have continued to remain independent, technology led and maintain their own technology. They are more and more a Bastion in a dying breed, brilliant video and thanks.

[ff.mychael]

Alan Wake 2 can't come out soon enough! Im so excited! I love these developers

[TheGameIsOn]

Max Payne
Alan Wake
Quantum Break
Control

All this Games are Masterworks❤️

[jameswinter]

Is still remember the wind and weather effects in Alan Wake back in the day and being blown away by it. Ever since then I always look at the trees in games, to see if someone put the effort in to think about the weather surrounding them and how they would be affected by it. The industry-pushing technology alone is a reason for me to look forward to your games because I just wanna know what you've been cooking up in the kitchen this time around.

[TREPLE]

You guys are amazing I can’t wait to see how insane Alan Wake 2 & Max Payne remakes gonna look like

[steppinonastoop]

I love that there's still a triple A studio not using unreal engine

[Chalexim]

So, so cool. Control is absolutely my favorite game and the graphics blow my mind! It cool to get a look into the Northlight Engine like this

[iPlayiOS]

This was fascinating (as per usual).

Thank you Remedy for all the games over the years. :)

[theviper]

This is super interesting, thanks for sharing Remedy!

[superwhizz]

When I got my gaming PC in 2020, the first game I got to test out ray tracing was Control. The Northlight engine is magnificent

[FlymanMS]

Noo don’t break it down, we need it for Max Payne remake(s)🥺