Wwise

Wwise is a cross-platform audio middleware developed by Audiokinetic that enables game developers and audio designers to create, organize, and deploy interactive audio within titles. The system emphasizes a data-driven workflow in which sound events, real-time parameters, and game object references drive audio behavior, reducing the need for bespoke code changes for audio tweaks.

At the core is the Wwise Authoring Tool, used to design sound objects, set up game states and switches, configure real-time parameter controls (RTPCs), and assemble soundbanks—packaged collections of audio assets loaded by the game at runtime. The interface supports collaboration among composers, sound designers, and programmers, and includes debugging and profiling features to monitor performance, memory usage, and audio routing. The engine provides an extensive effects chain and supports attenuation, mixing, virtualization, and a range of built-in effects; third-party plugins can be integrated as well.

Wwise operates across platforms and hardware, with runtimes for many consoles, PCs, mobile devices, and VR/AR headsets. It offers official integrations for major game engines, notably Unity and Unreal Engine, and provides APIs for custom engine integration.

Licensing is proprietary and structured for different scales of development, with options that include a free tier or trial for small teams or non-commercial use.

Wwise has been adopted by numerous game studios and is widely used in both AAA and indie productions. It competes with other audio middleware such as FMOD Studio.