Epic launches Unreal Engine 5

Image: Epic Games

The next-generation game engine has been released nearly two years after it was first announced. Unreal Engine 5 is now available to download, as part of a State of Unreal event.

Enhancements for developers include improved performance and an upgradedUI, but the most significant changes come from a handful of technologies designed for more realistic visuals. The solutions include a fully dynamic global illumination solution, as well as the ability to create games and experiences with massive amounts of geometric detail. CD Projekt Red has already confirmed that it is using the tool to build the next Witcher, which is expected to make it easier to make large-scale games at a high fidelity.

This is the first time that the Unreal Engine is widely available for game developers, but a few major projects have already been released to the public. In December of last year, Unreal 5 was released and at the same time, the developer released The Matrix Awakens, a tech demo that merged the likenesses of two actresses with a large open-world populated by the developer's Metahuman characters.

It is very good that we can experiment with the user experience before anyone else. We don't put unthought-out workflows in front of everyone. It's great from that perspective, especially with something as big as the Matrix demo and as small as the Battle Royale.

Image: Epic Games

As part of today's launch of Unreal Engine 5, a sample of The Matrix Awakens is available for game developers to build off of. The developer says that it can be a hands-on learning resource for game creators, and that it is releasing a sample shooter called Lyra, which looks a lot like Unreal Tournament.

Unreal has become popular for other applications, most notably film and television. The Mandalorian used Unreal for its virtual sets. With tools like the new generation of gaming hardware, we will see more of this kind of cross over. He says that in the past, creators used movie quality assets to be scaled down to be used in a game. The lines are starting to blur, opening up a lot of possibilities.

It really means that if you're making a movie, a TV show, or even doing an enterprise application, you don't have to think much about it. It is a game-changer on the new generation of hardware. There is a chance that a scene that is made for a streaming show at either Disney or Netflix will use the highest resolution assets.