In a nutshell: Epic Video games centered its 2024 GDC keynote on unveiling its additions to Unreal Engine with model 5.4. Amy Hennig revealed a brand new motion recreation showcasing the know-how, explaining the engine’s new element and animation enhancements, whereas Epic unveiled new instruments for Fortnite’s user-generated content material suite.
The primary preview of Unreal Engine 5.4 is now out there. The replace introduces vital new options to the animation toolchain and Nanite, Epic’s formidable polygon rendering system.
Amy Hennig, recognized for her work on the Uncharted sequence, demonstrated the developments by revealing her studio’s new recreation – 1943: Rise of Hydra. Deliberate for a 2025 launch, the title stars Captain America and Black Panther in occupied Paris throughout World Warfare II.
Whereas the sport’s unveiling, which begins across the 19-minute mark within the video beneath, did not embrace gameplay, Hennig proved that the trailer was operating in real-time by exploring its scenes and characters utilizing the Unreal Engine editor. The builders took the chance to showcase the newly launched Nanite tessellation, which provides element to things with out rendering extra polygons. In addition they demonstrated methods that may shortly change environmental textures and forged practical shadows on smoke or fog.
Moreover, Hennig defined how Unreal Engine 5’s movement seize system combines with its superior MetaHuman character creator to permit practical facial animations recorded from stay actors. Model 5.4’s major addition to animation is Movement Matching, which blends positions to animate in-game characters effectively. Fortnite has been exhibiting the system because the launch of Chapter 5, and Epic used the GDC presentation to announce vital additions to the sport’s customized creation instruments.
Individuals constructing customized situations inside Fortnite can now entry MetaHumans, enabling them to make NPCs with ranges of element just like AAA video games. Since Unreal Engine can seize facial animation information utilizing an iPhone, creating realistically animated scenes and not using a movement seize studio would possibly grow to be simpler. Epic explains the brand new toolset round an hour and 10 minutes into the stream.
Moreover, Fortnite editor customers can now embrace Lego-themed gadgets and property from Rocket Racing – an arcade racing spin-off for Rocket League Epic launched late final 12 months – whereas materials from Fall Guys turns into out there in Might. Later this 12 months, the editor will add interface enhancements, a first-person perspective mode, and dynamic physics methods extending past what gamers see in Fortnite matches.
Builders can obtain the Unreal Engine 5.4 preview on the Epic Video games Launcher, GitHub, or right here. Linux customers can discover it on Epic’s web site.