Unreal 5 has generated perhaps more hype than any other gaming-related news topic since Grand Theft Auto V. And this isn’t because it’s causing a massive amount of controversy, but rather because this new technology has applications far beyond the world of gamers and game developers. But who would be interested in this type of technology?
Let’s look further to find out how this tool could change the world.
Film & Animation
Unreal has several features that could make creating high-fidelity animation far more accessible than ever before. With a host of new technologies that make importing free high-quality assets (objects that make up a virtual world) easier for both developers and computers, Unreal is bringing a high-budget look to smaller studios.
But it’s not just the small studios that are excited. Creating a ‘virtual studio’ has become a huge trend in major Hollywood studios, first seen in hit-series The Mandalorian and now coming into use in the new major production 1899 (from the creators of the mind-bending series Dark). This involves creating a massive screen which creates believable, responsive backdrops to the actors’ performance.
Quixel, the company who created assets for The Mandalorian has teamed up with Epic to bring these feature-ready assets into their animations.
Advertising
Games are more and more becoming spaces where more traditional forms of project-sponsorship can play a huge role in finding funding. Part of what made companies so excited about the metaverse is the concept that they can create virtual products and virtual representations of their projects that could boost real-world sales.
Product placement has long been a massive source of funding for films, but only recently has it become more of a norm in video games – but not yet the games at Grand Rush. Mostly this has been seen in the racing game sector of the videogame industry, but unreal means that the same assets from one game could be placed in many other open world games as well, creating a cohesive world of brands across multiple titles.
Design
Nanite, one of the engine’s most exciting technologies, allows multiple design file formats to be brought into Unreal. This means designers can bring their CAD files into the engine for presentations and sales pitches.
For example, a furniture designer could place a photorealistic, fully functional design into a room populated with other furniture and appliances, and walk clients through a beautifully lit, visually appealing space. Showing them a convincing product before they’ve even made the purchase.
Moreover, if the design has moving parts, these movements will still be demonstrable within the virtual presentation space. If a piece moves or folds, the real-time dynamic lighting provided by Lumen will create the impression of a solid, real object.
Conclusion
These are merely a handful of believable scenarios in which people from a range of industries could use Unreal Engine as a power tool in design, marketing and creating functional digital worlds.
