Game engines are often the unsung heroes of modern game development. While titles like Cyberpunk 2077* or Horizon Forbidden West dazzle with their visuals and gameplay, the technology that brings them to life is rarely the focus. Yet in an industry where studios frequently pivot to established tools like Unreal Engine or Unity, a rare collaboration is proving that custom-built solutions can still deliver unmatched results.
Guerilla Games’ Decima engine, now over 13 years old, has defied expectations by serving as the foundation for two of gaming’s most visually striking franchises: Horizon Zero Dawn and Death Stranding. What began as a bespoke tool for Horizon has evolved into a shared resource, enabling Kojima Productions to craft the atmospheric, large-scale worlds of Death Stranding and its sequel, On the Beach—worlds that push the boundaries of what’s possible in real-time rendering.
The engine’s longevity isn’t just a testament to its flexibility but also to the deep technical synergy between the two studios. Unlike many modern engines that prioritize ease of use or modularity, Decima’s strength lies in its ability to handle the extreme demands of open-world design—from the jagged peaks of Death Stranding’s mountains to the vast, arid landscapes of On the Beach. According to technical insights, the latter’s opening scene alone boasts a polygon count nearing 25 million while maintaining a stable frame rate, a feat attributed to Decima’s optimized rendering pipeline.
A Rare Case of Custom Tech Thriving
In an era where even industry giants like CD Projekt Red have abandoned in-house engines in favor of Unreal Engine, the persistence of Decima stands out. For Kojima Productions, the engine’s runtime analysis tools and rendering capabilities have been critical in achieving visual effects that would be far more challenging—or impossible—in a generic engine. The collaboration with Guerilla Games has further refined Decima, with each studio contributing improvements that benefit both franchises. While the extent of Kojima’s contributions to Horizon Forbidden West remains uncredited, the mutual exchange of technical expertise has clearly paid off.
Why Stick with a 13-Year-Old Engine?
The decision to continue using Decima isn’t just about nostalgia. For studios like Kojima Productions and Guerilla Games, the engine’s bespoke nature allows for fine-tuned control over performance, art direction, and technical innovation. Where off-the-shelf engines might impose limitations—whether in rendering complexity, physics simulations, or world-scale management—Decima has been adapted to eliminate those barriers. Nearly a decade after its adoption, the engine still enables effects and scale that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.
The partnership also highlights a broader trend: that custom technology, when nurtured and evolved, can outlast commercial alternatives. As Death Stranding and Horizon* continue to redefine what’s possible in gaming, Decima’s role in their success serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most ambitious visions require tools built from the ground up.
