id Software has announced its next big FPS - Rage. The game is powered by id’s recently announced id Tech 5 game engine, and will see a simultaneous release on the PC, Mac, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

What’s interesting about this engine is that it is cross-compatible between platforms. id Tech 5 is the first “true” multi-platform engine. Todd Hollenshead explains:

Typically when a game is being developed for multiple platforms, you have to lower the resolution for different platforms, or have less stuff in the environment going on. But with id Tech 5 there is no changes in any of the versions.

That is huge, you don’t have to have a second, third development team working on your different ports. For instance with a game based on a movie license, where you are tied to a specific launch date, previously you had your problem platform and you would put 150 people on it to get it to work. There’s no need for that with id Tech 5 as long as you are prudent with your production management.

Interesting stuff. Surely id Tech 5 will give Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 some good ol’ competition. Check out the Rage trailer for id’s new engine in action. Graphics, and particularly the animation in this video, are very impressive.

id Software’s New Game Unveiled [Kotaku]