SE wishes to "Illuminate" the future.

[Wolf Kanno]

Remember Crystal Tools and how awesome it is with... FFXIII and now XIV? Looks like SE is making its replacement already.

My god Squenix, you've barely used the White Engine despite touting it for half a decade and you're already getting ready to dump it in favor of a new engine?

BTW, White Engine is Tools set not actual game engine and it is PS3's Cell-based not Cross-platform friendly.

Actually, I believe the "White Engine" was simply a place holder name for what became Crystal Tools and was meant to be cross-platform technology created for better facial modeling and working with 3D games.

In 2004, the company wanted to a "common 3D data format" to work on. This decision occurred as hardware manufacturers started offering new details on the current generation of hardware. Square's Research and Development Division was established on September 2006, and they announced an engine, then nicknamed "White Engine." At GDC, Murata unveiled its official new name: Crystal Tools, which reached version 1.0 on September 2007. (Internally, the team is working with v.1.1 of the tools.)
The development team requested extensive use of character close-ups and stylized expressions. Visuals are of the upmost importance for Square Enix. "When you look at the screen, it should look cool, or you should feel good."

GDC08: Square Enix unveils Crystal Tools engine | Joystiq

Also:
‘Crystal Tools’: Final Fantasy Engine Renamed, Supports Wii | GameLife | Wired.com

Square-Enix Rechristens White Engine, Plans To Bring It To Wii

GDC 08: Square Enix's White Engine renamed Crystal Tools- Destructoid

The articles point out the purpose of the engine was being able to make it easier to build 3D games on multiple platforms although its still up in the air if it will work on the Wii.

The problem here is that when the White Engine was originally announced, SE said it was PS3 exclusive but as early as 2007, they started saying it was multi-platform based game engine. I wouldn't be surprised if the PS3 exclusiveness was either a mistranslation or more likely an idea SE quickly changed their mind on seeing as how a year into its development the White Engine was starting to be touted as multi-platform.

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On topic though, it sounds to me like Luminous might be developed for Eidos more than SE's flagship series since it incorporates technology from previous Eidos titles. That or SE is hoping to build a more flexible game engine for both Japanese and Western developers.