Rumor suggests Retro Studios working on game engines for Wii U titles

They did this on GameCube. If anyone knows how to tap the maximum potential of a console, it's Retro Studios.

Retro Studios is working on something big, there are no doubts about that. While they are said to be working on a new game, a new rumor suggests the Texas-based developer might be working on something else as well. According to GenGame, one of their sources told them that Retro Studios has been assigned the task of creating game engines geared specifically for the Wii U, and are "helping other developers implement them." Full story after the break.




In an interview with IGN, Eiji Aonuma, the producer of the Zelda series, was asked whether the Big N might consider partnering up Retro Studios with Nintendo's own EAD to create a Zelda game. Aonuma replied:

Nintendo’s developers will continue to work on a number of different titles, and I think that we will have to rely on outside companies for graphics and other elements that require massive resources. I’m satisfied when the cooperation between Nintendo and other companies becomes something meaningful for both parties.

A month before said interview, at a meeting with investors, Iwata was asked about increasing development costs, and his response highlighted the fact that Nintendo has been working more with outside developers, rather than placing entire projects squarely on the shoulders of first-party developers.


Investor: Mr. Iwata, as a person who makes decisions as the judge, what do you think about the increasing development costs for the business of the Wii U and other platforms in the future?

Iwata:

You are asking for my comment as a judge, but I also need to think about the software content, so my remarks are two sided. Looking at the software for home console systems, there are certainly the software titles for which very rich graphics must be reproduced on HD displays and which demand a large number of developers to spend a very long time to develop.

When we need massive power and have a lack of internal resources, we collaborate with outside resources and pour necessary resources to where they are needed. We are increasing the frequency of working with outside developers where Mr. Miyamoto and our internal developers alone used to develop.

Take The Legend of Zelda franchise, for example, the fans must be looking for the graphic representations that they do not see as cheap at all when the title is released for the Wii U. When it is necessary, we do not hesitate to role out our resources.

Alex Plant of GenGame believes that, given Iwata's statements about Nintendo collaborating "with outside developers" rather than using internal developers alone, along with the info from his site's trusted source, Retro Studios could very well be working on game engines. Given the way Retro was able to pull off such amazing graphics on the GameCube and Wii with their Metroid Prime engine, they seem like a good team for the job.

As for whether the company is working on a Zelda game, I doubt it. Miyamoto himself told IGN in June of this year that Retro Studios is not working on a Zelda game, saying "they're too busy for that sort of thing." As for the rumor they're developing game engines, that is quite possible. If they aren't using one that already exists for their upcoming title, they'd pretty much have to create one themselves.

Source: GenGame, Nintendo investors meeting transcripts