This new Foundation is launching with over 20 corporate members including representatives from Adobe, AWS, Huawei, Niantic, and Red Hat. The goal is simple: To accelerate developer collaboration on 3D engine development for AAA-games and high-fidelity simulations.

Right out of the gate, Amazon Web Services, Inc. open-sourcing a new version of the Amazon Lumberyard game engine to the new foundation (under the Apache 2.0 license), as the Open 3D Engine. This new engine will enable developers and content creators to build exciting 3D experiences and provide support and infrastructure through forums, code repositories, and developer events.

But the 3D Enging will not be limited to developing for games and will include the likes of content authoring tools, animation, physics systems, and asset processing. In fact, creators will be able to work with highly collaborative solutions that can be used with nearly any development environment and build, share, and distribute immersive 3D worlds. Developers will be able to create with C++, LUA, and Python, while animators, technical artists, level designers, and other content creators can work directly with the O3DE’s built-in authoring tools.

Chris Aniszczyk, CTO, LinuxFoundation, said of this new opportunity, “The new Open 3D Foundationfinally gives gaming and engine developers an opportunity to influence the direction of a major AAA class 3D engine that is sustained for the long term by a worldwide open source community.” Aniszczyk continued, “Furthermore, other industries such as automotive and healthcare can take advantage of embedding the engine and supporting the advancement of the engine to benefit all.”