Toyota Enters Game Engine Development, Targeting Vehicle Displays and UI
Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota has announced the development of its own game engine called Fluorite. Although termed a game engine, this technology is not intended for game development but rather to support graphical displays and interactive user interfaces (UI) on in-vehicle screens.
The development of the Fluorite game engine is being conducted by Toyota Connected North America, a Toyota subsidiary responsible for vehicle connectivity systems and digital experiences. Toyota explains that the game engine has been specifically designed for automotive systems, which typically have more limited hardware capabilities compared to smartphones or laptops. Consequently, the engine has been engineered to be lightweight.
With this approach, developers can utilise Dart language and Flutter’s high-level API to build interactive experiences, including 3D games and interfaces without relying on traditional heavy game engines. According to Toyota, the game engine has been optimised to deliver high performance even when running on low-end hardware or embedded systems.
Fluorite supports modern graphics APIs such as Vulkan, enabling systems to maximise hardware acceleration and deliver impressive visuals. The engine is equipped with several features that simplify the development process. One notable feature is support for hot reload systems, which allow developers to view changes in real time without waiting for lengthy compilation processes.
The game engine also supports model-based trigger areas, enabling designers to define touch or click areas directly through 3D design software such as Blender without requiring additional code-level configuration.
As mentioned, Toyota has emphasised that the development of Fluorite game engine originated from the need to build 3D user interfaces for future vehicles. Consequently, Toyota decided to develop its own internal game engine designed to be lighter and tailored to the long-term needs of vehicles.
Fluorite is positioned as a full-featured open-source engine. Toyota hopes that the game engine can be utilised by independent developers and the community at large.