Revolutionizing Gaming: Epic Games' State of Unreal 2023 Keynote Recap

Unreal Engine 5 Update Brings New Features to Fortnite and Beyond

Epic Games held its annual State of Unreal keynote on March 22, 2023, and the gaming industry was abuzz with excitement over the company’s latest announcements. The keynote showcased the latest updates to Unreal Engine 5, as well as several new features that will impact the gaming industry for years to come. Here are the biggest announcements from the event.

Unreal Engine 5 Update Brings New Features to Fortnite and Beyond

One of the biggest announcements from the keynote was the release of the Unreal Engine 5 update, which promises to bring a host of new features to Fortnite and other games built on the engine. The update includes improvements to the engine’s lighting and shading capabilities, as well as new tools for creating more realistic animations and environments.

Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Unreal Engine 5 update is its Nanite technology, which allows for the rendering of incredibly detailed graphics in real-time. Nanite eliminates the need for developers to manually optimize assets for use in games, meaning that they can create more detailed and complex environments without sacrificing performance.

In addition to these updates, Epic Games also announced that Fortnite will be getting a new map that has been built using Unreal Engine 5. The new map will feature more complex environments, as well as more realistic lighting and shadows.

New Tools for Game Developers

The State of Unreal keynote also showcased several new tools for game developers, including the Chaos Physics system, which allows for more realistic simulations of physical objects in games. With Chaos Physics, developers can create more immersive and realistic environments that respond realistically to player interactions.

Another new tool announced at the keynote was the MetaHuman Creator, which allows developers to create photorealistic digital humans in minutes. The tool uses a combination of machine learning and advanced graphics technology to create realistic 3D models of human characters, complete with facial expressions and body language.

New Platform for Game Distribution

Epic Games also announced the launch of a new platform for game distribution called the Epic Storefront. The storefront will allow developers to sell their games directly to players, without the need for a middleman such as Steam or the App Store. The Epic Storefront will also feature a revenue sharing model that is more favorable to developers, with a 88/12 split in favor of the developer.

The Epic Storefront will also feature a variety of tools for developers, including analytics and marketing tools that will help them promote their games and reach a wider audience.

Conclusion

The State of Unreal keynote was packed with exciting announcements and updates for the gaming industry. From the new features in Unreal Engine 5 to the MetaHuman Creator and the Epic Storefront, there is no shortage of innovation coming from Epic Games. It will be exciting to see how these updates and tools are used by developers to create even more immersive and engaging gaming experiences in the years to come.