Unreal Engine
Ongoing coverage on Unreal Engine.
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HALON BEGINS NEXT CHAPTER AS AN INDEPENDENT CREATIVE PRODUCTION COMPANY
Halon Entertainment is becoming an independent company through a management buyout led by CEO Chris Ferriter, formerly part of NEP Group. The creative production company, known for its work in film, episodic, games, and immersive entertainment, aims to increase agility and focus on client needs and growth. Halon has a history of working on major properties like The Batman, Fortnite, and Sid Meier's Civilization.
Blizzard’s Unannounced StarCraft Title: The Hard Facts
Evidence suggests Blizzard Entertainment is developing a new AAA open-world shooter set in the StarCraft universe, moving away from its Real-Time Strategy roots. The project is built on Unreal Engine and led by former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, indicating a significant shift in franchise direction and development strategy.
Fumito Ueda is Rethinking The Companion Relationship That Defined His Career
Fumito Ueda discusses his upcoming game, Gen Atlas, and how it rethinks the companion relationship that defined his previous works like Ico and The Last Guardian. While the game features guns and a sci-fi setting, Ueda emphasizes that it is not a pure shooter and that the companion's role and communication will differ from his past titles. Gen Atlas is being developed using Unreal Engine for a multiplatform release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
OD Will Have a System For Players That Are Too Scared to Continue, Says Hideo Kojima
Hideo Kojima discussed his upcoming Xbox-exclusive horror game OD, revealing a system designed for players who might find the game too scary. He also shared that the concept for OD originated during the development of Death Stranding, and many companies rejected the idea as too unconventional. The game is being developed with Unreal Engine and MetaHuman, and is expected to utilize Microsoft's cloud technology.
Unreal Engine senior director Sjoerd De Jong leaves Epic Games after almost 12 years
Sjoerd De Jong, Senior Director of Product for Unreal Engine at Epic Games, has departed after 12 years with the company and 27 years of involvement with the Unreal Engine. De Jong cited the industry being at a 'pivotal point' and the previous 'era has come to a close' as reasons for his resignation. His departure follows recent reveals of generative AI models being adapted into Unreal Engine.
Naoki Hamaguchi explains why they stuck with Unreal 4 for Final Fantasy VII: Revelation
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, explained the decision to continue using Unreal Engine 4 for the final part of the Final Fantasy VII remake series. This choice was made to maintain consistency and leverage existing development pipelines for the upcoming installment.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director explains why the game is sticking with Unreal Engine 4 instead of 5
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi explained the decision to stick with Unreal Engine 4 instead of upgrading to Unreal Engine 5. Hamaguchi stated that switching engines would have significantly extended development time, which was not ideal from a business or player perspective. The team was able to implement a Nanite-like rendering system within Unreal Engine 4, achieving comparable visual quality.
Vampire Survivors devs are rethinking their Fortnite collab
The developers of Vampire Survivors, Poncle, are reconsidering their collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic Games' increasing integration of generative AI tools. Despite Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney's past comments on AI tags, the company is now promoting generative AI for game asset creation within Unreal Engine. Poncle has publicly stated they are reviewing the partnership, indicating a potential halt if Epic Games continues down this path.
"Hell or high water": the System Shock remake's co-director on the sneaky step taken to get the game made
Nightdive Studios' co-director Daniel Grayshon revealed that a secret internal group called 'La Résistance' was formed to ensure the System Shock remake's completion after the project ran out of funding in 2018. Grayshon himself learned Unreal Engine 4 to rebuild Citadel Station for the game, which ultimately stayed faithful to the original while incorporating necessary design changes.
"One view of the future is that Roblox grows and eats gaming" - Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney delivers impassioned speech about the future of gaming
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney delivered a speech at the State of Unreal event, expressing concern over the rising costs and failing audiences in the AAA game business. He highlighted the growing importance of social gaming experiences and user-generated content platforms like Roblox, suggesting they represent a significant shift in the industry's future. Sweeney also discussed Epic's vision for a connected ecosystem powered by Unreal Engine, despite the company itself facing layoffs.
AI Yi-Yi!
Epic Games has sparked debate among Unreal Engine users regarding the use of AI for concept art, while NVIDIA and HPE are expanding their AI factories for agent-based systems. The article touches upon the increasing prevalence and potential impact of AI models in various industries.
BioWare's co-founder fought to make Baldur's Gate 3 for over a decade, then Larian did it instead: 'I…
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster discusses the long and difficult journey to get Baldur's Gate 3 made, with multiple studios like Black Isle, Obsidian, and Beamdog attempting and failing to secure funding over two decades. Beamdog, led by Oster, pitched a version to Wizards of the Coast but ultimately could not secure the necessary $20 million budget, leading them to pursue other projects. Oster reflects on Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, acknowledging their greater capital and ability to execute their vision at a high scale.
Now-deleted TFT job post hints that it could be moving to Unreal Engine
A now-deleted job posting from Riot Games suggests that Teamfight Tactics may be transitioning from its current Hextech Engine to Unreal Engine. The job description for a Director of User Experience (UX) Design mentioned partnering on the transition into Unreal Engine. This move could indicate a standalone version of the game and potentially improve the mobile experience, aligning with other Riot titles like Valorant that utilize Unreal Engine.
Nintendo Fans Don’t Know What They Want
This article discusses the evolving and often contradictory expectations of Nintendo fans regarding game aesthetics. It highlights historical examples like The Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild, where initial fan reactions to stylistic changes eventually turned positive, contrasting with recent divided responses to more realistic remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox.
Evening Mobilization
Arm Holdings has developed new technology that enables the use of Unreal Engine MegaLights on mobile devices. The article also briefly mentions NVIDIA's work on safety for robotaxis and a move by Mint Mobile.
Kalanoro launches August 27
Kalanoro, an action-adventure platformer developed by Red Raketa Studio, is set to launch on August 27. The game features a unique blend of platforming, combat, and band-building mechanics, set in a world inspired by Malagasy folklore and music. Players will embark on a musical roadtrip to overthrow a witch's tyranny, utilizing hair-powered abilities and recruiting musicians to form a band.
New Arm tech enables the use of Unreal Engine MegaLights on mobile
Arm has unveiled its new neural graphics technology, demonstrated in the mobile game Neural Dawn developed by Sumo Digital. This technology enables the use of Unreal Engine MegaLights and ray-tracing on mobile devices for the first time, previously only available on PC and consoles. The Arm Mali GPU, incorporating machine learning, aims to deliver desktop-class visuals while preserving battery life, allowing for longer gaming sessions and dynamic lighting previously unachievable on mobile platforms.
It’s Hard To Get Excited For Persona 4 Revival
The author expresses a lack of excitement for the upcoming Persona 4 Revival remake, despite holding the original Persona 4 as a favorite JRPG. This is largely due to Persona 4 Golden already receiving a comprehensive re-release on modern platforms, making the need for another remake questionable. The article questions whether the new visuals and potential new content in Revival can justify its existence or improve upon the already definitive Persona 4 Golden.
Surprising no one, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra won't be out this year
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra has been delayed again and will not be released in 2026, according to Paramount Games Studio. While the game is playable, the team is taking more time to achieve a high level of quality with a smaller, more sustainable development model. The action-adventure title, led by Amy Hennig, is set in occupied Paris and features Captain America and Black Panther.
From Clouds To Ketchup Bottles, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Is Pushing The Series To New Heights
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is introducing several new features, including a first-person perspective for its entire story and advanced cloud rendering technology within Unreal Engine. Director Kazutoki Kono discussed the game's focus on immersion, the influence of Top Gun: Maverick, and the meticulous detail in creating both real and fictional aircraft.
