UbiArt Framework

The UbiArt Framework is a 2.5D video game engine developed by Ubisoft Montpellier. Its function is to organize 2D animated vector graphics^[1] into a playable video game without extensive coding.^[2]

Developer(s)	Ubisoft Montpellier
Initial release	2010
Written in	C++
Operating system	Cross-platform
Type	Game engine
License	Proprietary

History

In 2010, Ubisoft announced Rayman Origins, first an episodic video game designed by Michel Ancel and developed by a small team of five people, but it was announced that it transformed into a full game. The title uses the UbiArt Framework developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and Ancel. UbiArt is a developer platform that allows artists and animators to easily create content and use it in an interactive environment.^[3] The engine is optimized for HD resolutions and is capable of running games at 60 frames per second in resolutions exceeding 1080p.

Ancel has expressed his desire for the framework to be available for anybody to develop games with.^[4] However, no public release or licensing option has been made available.

On April 9, 2019, in an interview with IGN,^[5] Yves explained why the engine was not being used as initially planned and explains that the "tools were difficult to use". The plan was to distribute the engine to other studios with Guillemot saying "at one point we wanted to give them to everybody [in Ubisoft].” However, they decided not to as they wanted to “spend a lot of time with a lot of people to actually help people to use it.” But the engine is not abandoned as Guillemot explained “It’s still there, and you will see other things using it, but it’s not as predominant as it used to be”, meaning the engine hasn't been forgotten.^[6]

Games developed with UbiArt Framework

Year	Title	Platform(s)
		PS3	PSVita	PS4	PS5	Wii	3DS	Wii U	NS	Win	X360	XONE	XSX/S	IOS	Android	OS X	Stadia
2011	Rayman Origins	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
2012	Rayman Jungle Run	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
2013	Rayman Legends Challenge App	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2013	Rayman Legends	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
2013	Rayman Fiesta Run	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
2013	Just Dance 2014	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
2014	Child of Light	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
2014	Valiant Hearts: The Great War	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
2014	Just Dance Wii U	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2014	Just Dance 2015	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
2015	Gravity Falls: Legend of the Gnome Gemulets	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2015	Rayman Adventures	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
2015	Just Dance 2016	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
2015	Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2016	Just Dance 2017	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
2017	Just Dance 2018	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
2018	Just Dance 2019	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
2019	Rayman Mini	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
2019	Just Dance 2020	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
2020	Just Dance 2021	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
2021	Just Dance 2022	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes

References

1. "How to create an animation in UBIart Framework". www.ubi.com. June 7, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
2. William Audureau (September 23, 2013). "UbiArt Framework: small tool up and up ..." www.gamekult.com (in French). Retrieved July 22, 2014.
3. How do you create an animation in UBIart Framework?, UBIart
4. "Ancel wants UbiArt tech to be free for all". MCV. 11 July 2011.
5. IGN (2019-04-09), Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot Discusses Company's Past, Present, & Next-Gen Future - IGN Unfiltered #41, retrieved 2019-06-03
6. "Ubisoft Boss explains why we haven't seen any UbiArt games lately". Critical Hit. 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2019-06-03.