Crytek to make CryEngine free to UK universities

Crytek is to increase its commitment to games education by offering its market-leading CryEngine for free to universities across the UK.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, managing director of Crytek UK Karl Hilton said that it's a commitment the company is keen to take on in a effort to give students and graduates vital hands-on experience.

"Universities are looking to foster creativity and send people out into the industry who have lots of ideas, but it's also about that practical hands-on training so that they know what the limitations are," said Hilton. "It's very easy for students to come out of the academic world and not have a grasp on the realities of making a videogame.

"The more we can get involved with them and give them feedback and access to the tools involved, the more accurate the course will become in training people up."

Crytek hopes to see the CryEngine roll-out within the month in time for the new term, with Hilton's old university Bournemouth one of the first to integrate the tech.

"We're talking with uni's now about how they can integrate it into their courses and going down to see them to do a one day tutorial to get them up and running on that as quickly as possible," he revealed. "It'll be a learning experience for both of us to see how they integrate it."

Hilton believes the UK development scene is very proactive in promoting and working in education, and offering the CryEngine for free is another way of helping students master the skills needed for a commercial environment.

"I think we're very forward looking," he said. "Students and universities aren't mind readers, they won't know exactly what we do and how we do it unless they get in contact with people who actually work in the industry."