RenderWare

RenderWare
DeveloperCriterion Software
Initial release1993
Final release
3.7 / 2007
Written inC, C++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PSP, Nintendo DS
Available inEnglish
TypeGame engine, Middleware
LicenseProprietary commercial
Websitewww.renderware.com

RenderWare is a game engine middleware developed by Criterion Software, a British subsidiary of Criterion Games. First released commercially in 1993, it became one of the most widely used third-party 3D engines in the video game industry during the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. Its acquisition by Electronic Arts in 2004 accelerated its decline, but its technical legacy remains significant. Major franchises such as Grand Theft Auto, Burnout, and Mortal Kombat relied on it as their rendering backbone.