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Hello! Thanks for reading! I finally won a PS5 lottery and was able to buy one. I nearly caved to the scalpers, so I'm glad... FIFA 22 is fun... To tie in with that, this time I'll write about Unreal Engine! Gamers hear this word a lot, and even those who aren't probably hear it often these days. It's used in a growing number of services beyond games, too. So please read to the end!
1. What Is Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine is software developed by Epic Games and, alongside "Unity," is one of the industry-standard game engines.
https://www.unrealengine.com/ja/
The current latest version is "Unreal Engine 4.27," but "Unreal Engine 5" has already been announced. It was announced in line with the PS5's release reveal, which led to speculation that the message was that Unreal Engine 5 would handle game production on the PS5.
2. What You Can Do with Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is used for things beyond game production. Let me introduce a few examples.
Architecture In the architecture field, it's used as a tool for high-quality visual expression. It's also used for collaboration using virtual space. One example is a tool for reviewing building designs in virtual space. A previous session gave an explanation like the following:
This tool allows a mix of users on PC and users on VR HMDs, and also has features such as presentation boards and task lists. Mr. Sugiyama explained, "With Unreal Engine, you can build a collaboration tool that multiple users can join from different locations."
The architectural visualization studio "Buildmedia" also used Unreal Engine to develop a virtual model room.
The virtual room supports touchscreen and VR, and you can simulate the view from each room and how sunlight falls. The company also says it uses Unreal Engine's real-time ray tracing to provide images and videos for catalogs and websites.
Automotive industry At "Daimler Protics," a subsidiary of the German automaker "Daimler," a collaboration tool called "Engineering Hub," developed using Unreal Engine, has been adopted. In addition to being able to directly import CAD data, this tool enables exchanging opinions with staff in other countries, changing data on the spot, taking measurements, and more. It also offers benefits such as being able to grasp space visually.
https://www.daimler-protics.com/
Film Since 2016, Unreal Engine has apparently been adopted for the production of over 120 video-content titles! A famous example is that it was used in producing "The Mandalorian," the drama series in "Star Wars." Real-time rendered footage is displayed on an LED wall while live-action filming takes place... a bit hard to picture... This method enables real-time lighting and makes it possible to do live-action filming in a variety of locations, such as outdoors, indoors, and inside vehicles.
https://disneyplus.disney.co.jp/program/mandalorian.html
It's also apparently used for training and simulation in surgery, aircraft piloting, special work at construction sites, and more! The examples introduced today are those presented at the CEDEC 2020 session "On the Use of Unreal Engine in Non-Game Fields: Cases in Architecture/Automotive/Film and Other Fields, Plus the Latest on UE4/Twinmotion."
https://cedec.cesa.or.jp/2020/
3. Famous Titles
Let me introduce a few game titles developed using Unreal Engine — its original purpose! (Sorry for the personal-taste picks...)
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age The latest numbered title in the Dragon Quest series, this work was also developed with Unreal Engine. It stirred up a bit of controversy, but personally I found it fun! I played it on both PS4 and Switch. For the record, "Dragon Quest XII," currently in development, will apparently be developed using "Unreal Engine 5." I'm looking forward to it!
https://www.dq11.jp/s/pf/index.html
Final Fantasy VII Remake It was also used in this remake of "FF7," a popular title even within the FF series. I'd never played the original, but it was incredibly fun. The visual beauty and battle system were wonderful! This work will apparently be released in several parts, so the sequels onward may be developed with "Unreal Engine 5"!
https://www.jp.square-enix.com/ffvii_remake/
Kingdom Hearts III The latest numbered title in a masterpiece series realized through the pairing of SQUARE ENIX and Disney. (It was announced that 3 would be the last, but footage hinting at a next installment has been released.) Please play from 1, including the related works! It's a work that's irresistible not only for Disney fans but for RPG fans, too.
https://www.jp.square-enix.com/kingdom/kh3/
It's also used in various other titles, such as Fortnite, Street Fighter V, and Tekken 7!
4. In Closing
This time the article ended up in full-on hobby mode. That said, Unreal Engine is used not only for games but widely in virtual spaces and the like, and I think it'll be used in many non-game contexts going forward, too! I've been involved with it on a recent project myself! Thank you for reading to the end!