Epic: Unreal Engine 3 "probably the way to go" for next gen launch titles

Next-generation launch titles would probably be best off holding off on using Unreal Engine 4 and using the current version of Epic's engine, the company's Vice President Mark Rein has said.

"I think if you were going to do a launch title for a future console, UE3 would probably be the way to go," he told CVG during GDC earlier this month.

"And likewise if you were going to do something cross-generational, like Mortal Kombat on PS Vita, Xbox, PS3 and potentially it could be on iPad... that's Unreal. Unreal spans the gamut, it goes from the smallest smartphone platforms up to the highest spec PC you can build and beyond."

Rein was keen to underline that the impressive Samaritan demo can be done on the current iteration of Unreal Engine - even if it can only be ran on high-end PCs. Rein went as far as to say that Unreal Engine 4 made Samaritan look like "a piece of crap."

"The UE4 stuff is very futuristic. UE3 is really the horse for this year," he also told CVG.

Unreal Engine 4 is intended to be shown off later this year, while Samaritan could become a full game.