EA-DICE Frostbite Titles in 2013 Will Require 64-bit Windows

[btarunr]

While content-creation and media transcoding applications have transitioned to native x86-64 applications that can take advantage of large amounts of system and video memory, a similar transition by game developers has been rather slow. Very few PC games ship with 64-bit executables, as most games are ported from game consoles anyway, which have slim system requirements.

EA-DICE has been behind developing games that take advantage of the latest PC technologies (such as DirectX 11), and according to a lead developer and rendering architect with the studio, Johan Andersson, games that are driven by Frostbite engine, which are slated for 2013, will require 64-bit operating systems, these games will not run on 32-bit Windows, or in 32-bit mode, on 64-bit Windows, but with full-fledged 64-bit executables. The 64-bit address-space would allow games to take advantage of system memory over 4 GB, and more importantly, high amounts of video memory, as 2 GB and 3 GB become standard with performance-segment graphics cards.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>We'll have Frostbite-powered games in 2013 that will _require_ a 64-bit OS. If you are on 32-bit, great opportunity to upgrade to Windows 8</p>&mdash; Johan Andersson (@repi) <a href="https://twitter.com/repi/status/204501258273427456" data-datetime="2012-05-21T09:17:54+00:00">May 21, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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[eidairaman1]

The Push for Windows 64bit begins now!

 

[slyfox2151]

YEAH!!!!

....


its only taken how many years?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

7 years. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition was released in April 2005. I've been running a 64-bit OS since June 2005.

 

[seronx]

8GB DDR3 Single Channel + Windows 8 Pro + 512-GB/1-TB SSD: 2013 HERE I COME!!!

 

[slyfox2151]

8GB DDR3 Single Channel + Windows 8 Pro + 512-GB/1-TB SSD: 2013 HERE I COME!!!

i wonder if i will have 64/128GB of ram by then?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I think they should still provide 32-bit executables for those that don't have a 64-bit OS. If you're running in a low resolution, it probably won't move into 64-bit territory in terms of memory usage.

They're going to get a ton of support calls and bad publicity from people that bought these games with a 32-bit computer and no option, whatsoever, to play them.

 

[MikeMurphy]

I see it as more of an exception than a big trend. When the next-gen consoles are out there will be a much bigger push for 64-bit resources.

 

[seronx]

i wonder if i will have 64/128GB of ram by then?

I don't do CAD workloads and I don't currently need more than 8-GB. Nor, do I need dual/tri/quad channels...my applications show the best scores with single channel.

 

[Prima.Vera]

If you are on 32-bit, great opportunity to upgrade to Windows 8

What's wrong with Windows 7 x64 ???!?shadedshu

 

[seronx]

What's wrong with Windows 7 x64 ???!?shadedshu

Nothing, but Windows 8 uses less memory than Windows 7. (More memory for 64-bit games!)

 

[eidairaman1]

Nothing, but Windows 8 uses less memory than Windows 7. (More memory for 64-bit games!)

we can only hope so, that Metro Interface is annoying as hell

 

[Prima.Vera]

Nothing, but Windows 8 uses less memory than Windows 7. (More memory for 64-bit games!)

Any real proof of that??!

 

[eidairaman1]

I think they should still provide 32-bit executables for those that don't have a 64-bit OS. If you're running in a low resolution, it probably won't move into 64-bit territory in terms of memory usage.

They're going to get a ton of support calls and bad publicity from people that bought these games with a 32-bit computer and no option, whatsoever, to play them.

I thought all CPUs had x86-64 anymore

 

[seronx]

Any proof of that??!

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/07/reducing-runtime-memory-in-windows-8.aspx

Also, got a reason to get two monitors...(No more black screen in the second monitor yay!)

I thought all CPUs had x86-64 anymore

All current CPUs support 32-bit and 64-bit, you are correct.

 

[ShadowXP]

I think they should still provide 32-bit executables for those that don't have a 64-bit OS. If you're running in a low resolution, it probably won't move into 64-bit territory in terms of memory usage.

They're going to get a ton of support calls and bad publicity from people that bought these games with a 32-bit computer and no option, whatsoever, to play them.

Got to love it when people get so hyped up about games that they don't read the systems requirements. Besides, any computer old enough to NOT have 64-bit capability won't be able to run the game anyway.

I think it's good, and about bloody time, that devs are starting to push for 64-bit games now, and start using the computing-power that most people have. It's annoying to be limited by 32-bit architecture.

 

[slyfox2151]

I don't do CAD workloads and I don't currently need more than 8-GB. Nor, do I need dual/tri/quad channels...my applications show the best scores with single channel.

i don't understand why you needed to say that lol?

Got to love it when people get so hyped up about games that they don't read the systems requirements. Besides, any computer old enough to NOT have 64-bit capability won't be able to run the game anyway.

I think it's good, and about bloody time, that devs are starting to push for 64-bit games now, and start using the computing-power that most people have. It's annoying to be limited by 32-bit architecture.

This.

 

[eidairaman1]

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/07/reducing-runtime-memory-in-windows-8.aspx
All current CPUs support 32-bit and 64-bit, you are correct.

Last time I seen a non 64bit part was SKT 478/ SKT 462, Excluding Sempron/Celeron/Pentium parts

 

[Prima.Vera]

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2...windows-8.aspx

LOL. I don't have 1 or 2GB of RAM not even on my crappy laptop. And besides, until now even if you had 8 or more GB of RAM, the games were not using more than 3GB anyways. Now in the situation of x64 .exe files this will change. Hopefully the loading times will be significantly reduced!

 

[Liquid Cool]

Windows XP x64 should be good right?



LC

 

[Drone]

Another marketing bullcrap. How about making applications that utilize all cores/threads first?
Just another brainwashing like Halo 2 working under windows vista.

 

[seronx]

LOL. I don't have 1 or 2GB of RAM not even on my crappy laptop. And besides, until now even if you had 8 or more GB of RAM, the games were not using more than 3GB anyways. Now in the situation of x64 .exe files this will change. Hopefully the loading times will be significantly reduced!

32-bit -> 2GB
32-bit ext -> 3GB
32-bit on 64-bit -> 4 GB
64-bit probably user tweakable -> 4 GB -> Infinite GB(Get that game in the RAM!)

 

[Perra]

Also, got a reason to get two monitors...(No more black screen in the second monitor yay!)

Black screen on second monitor? What? Have I missed something? Been running more than one screen for ages and can't recall ever having that.

 

[Lionheart]

Command & Conquer : Generals 2 should be well coded then

 

[hellrazor]

Command & Conquer : Generals 2 should be well coded then