View source for XenEngine

{{langsp}}
{{Xe|4}} (also known as {{xe|1|nt=1}}) is a third-party {{Source|4|nt=1}} branch using licenced code. It is a modified version of the {{src13mp|4}} engine branch with {{tf2|4}} additions, whose development was influenced by the limitations of the {{src|1|nt=1}}. Although initially only [[CSM]] was planned, they gained much more knowledge while working on the engine, which allowed for more experimentation and improvements, eventually leading to the introduction of a completely new lighting system, and {{wiki|deferred lighting|icon=hide}}.

== Features ==
* '''Engine'''
** Entity Limit and Displacement upgraded from 4k to 8k.
** Improved AI, whose behavior depends on the current difficulty level (some [[NPC|NPCs]] also support Main and Assault Behavior Trees).
** Temp lights were swapped with new deferred lights.
** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_shading Gbuffer] that allowed to add some modern difficult effects.
** Made from scratch [[Qt]] UI with ability to be customized and add some new stuff (old [[VGUI]] can be enabled with <code>-oldgameui</code> launch parameter).
** Using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_approximate_anti-aliasing Fast Approximate Anti-Aliasing] (FXAA for short) instead of {{w|Multisample_anti-aliasing|'''M'''ulti'''S'''ample '''A'''nti-'''A'''liasing}} (MSAA) which take performance, which reduces performance (unlike FXAA).
** New and extended Post Processor.
** Native Linux support and OS based on it.
*'''Visuals'''
** [[Lightmapped_4WayBlend|4Way blends]] with support for 4 bumpmaps and tri-planar mapping, enabling all the options from other material shaders.
** [[Cascaded Shadow Mapping]] with PCF-based soft shadows and [[viewmodel]] self-shadowing.
** [[Parallax mapping|Parallax Occlusion Mapping]].
** {{wiki|Deferred lighting|icon=hide}}.
** Dynamic lighting system with [[Physically Based Rendering|PBR]]-based lighting and [[New Specular|speculars]].
** Light cookies for both new [[newLight_Point|point light]] and new [[newLight_Spot|spot light]], the last can be animated.
** Support for up to 2K dynamic lights per scene and all rendering features on secondary render targets (reflection/refraction, monitors, TV screens, etc.)
** Godrays with disk for both [[newLight_Dir|sun]] and local lights, the last also can use Fancy godrays type.
** [[newxog_volume|Volumetric Xen Fog]], that can be applied globally or locally using cuboid/ellipsoid volumes.
** Soft particles.
** Cinematic [[env_lensflare|lens flares]].
** Upgraded tonemapping with bloom which use a modified version of the Reinhard filter.
** Optimized shaders for faster compilation and better runtime performance.
** Baked in [[lightmaps]] [[Ambient Occlusion]].
* '''Tools'''
** In-game new lights and xog editors.
** Multiple [[VRAD]] upgrades, such as support for Alpha-Tested textures, 4-way blends, and more.
** 64-bit shader compiler.

== Media ==
<div style=width:100%;overflow:auto>
{| border="0" cellpadding="4" align="center"
|[[File:Black Mesa Blue Shift - Screenshot 8.png|500px|center]]
|[[File:GodraysInWater 1.jpg|500px|center]]
|[[File:Asheep - Screenshot 7.jpg|500px|center]]
|[[File:BMS - Screenshot_3.jpg|500px|center]]
|[[File:BMBO - Screenshot 2.jpg|500px|center]]
|[[File:BMS - Screenshot_10.jpg|500px|center]]
|}
</div>

==Availability==
{{tip|The authoring tools for this branch has been released and is available directly from {{bms|4|addtext='s}} {{path|bms\bin\}}}}
* {{Code|2020}} {{bms|4}}
** {{Code|2017}} {{bmsbo|4}}
** {{Code|2020}} {{bmsas|4}}
** {{Code|TBA}} {{bmsbs|4}}

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Engine branches|Engine branches]]
*{{bms|4}}
*{{asd|4}}
*{{mb|4}}
*{{strata|4}}

== External links ==
*[https://chetanjags.wordpress.com/category/blackmesa-source-engine/ Chetan Jag's Blog] about XenEngine