Gearbox Software and Epic Games announced that they have entered into an a long-term agreement that will see Epic's Unreal Engine 3 technology be the exclusive technology Gearbox uses for next-generation console and PC games for Gearbox-owned intellectual properties. Gearbox has previously licensed the Unreal Engine for the hugely successful Brothers In Arms Road to Hill 30, and upcoming sequel, Brothers In Arms Earned in Blood, on PC, Xbox and PlayStation2. Along with other original, unannounced next generation Gearbox titles, Unreal Engine 3 will power Brothers in Arms 3 (which Sony announced at the Tokyo Game Show is coming to the Sony Playstation 3).
Gearbox have struck gold with Brothers in Arms which, besides being a fun game to play, also sold over 2 million copies making it a worthy rival to Call of Duty 2. Judging by the recently released demo for BiA: Earned in Blood, the sequel will feature the same gritty mix of action and tactics that made its predecessor so popular. Visually however, the game has changed very little and Gearbox must be eager to make the next-generation jump. Unreal Engine 3.0 would seem to be a good bet for BiA especially now that the first details and impressive visuals of Activision's next-gen, Call of Duty 2 have surfaced.
