NVIDIA has announced a licensing agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, which will allow developers to download and use for free its PhysX technology software development kit (SDK.)

The SDK consists of a full-featured API and robust physics engine, designed to give developers, animators, level designers, and artists unprecedented creative control over character and object physical interactions by allowing them to author and preview physics effects in real time.

"Nvidia is proud to support PlayStation 3 as an approved middleware provider," said Tony Tamasi, senior vice president of content and technology at Nvidia, in a statement.

"Games developed for the PlayStation 3 using PhysX technology offer a more realistic and lifelike interaction between the games characters and other objects within the game. We look forward to the new games that will redefine reality for a new generation of gamers."

Most recently, games that currently feature PhysX support include Mirror's Edge and Gears of War 2. It's going to be interesting to see which PS3 developers take an interest in NVIDIA's free technology and whether their games will harness its potential.