Pasquale Scionti unveils "final stage" Unreal Engine 5.2 Lumen showcase "The Dark Forest"
In his latest display of Unreal Engine's powerful rendering capabilities, Pasquale Scionti, a Principal Lighting/Lookdev Artist at Tornbanner Studios, has shared a "final stage" look at "The Dark Forest," a project that pushes the boundaries of virtual environment creation.
Using Unreal Engine 5.2 with its advanced Lumen lighting technology and Sky Creator for atmospheric effects, Scionti crafted a scene rich in mood and realism, complete with volumetric mist and rain.
Achieving remarkable performance, the project runs smoothly at 4K resolution and 50/60fps on an RTX4090, showcasing the engine's efficiency with high-end hardware.
The intricate details of "The Dark Forest" are a testament to Scionti's adept use of the tools at his disposal. The terrain and winding paths were sculpted within Unreal, integrating Quixel megascans assets and biomes, including conifer and ominously animated creepy trees created with Speedtree.
In response to queries on social media, Scionti confirmed the water effects were also achieved using Unreal's native systems, albeit with personal tweaks for added depth and realism. The meticulous environment suggests a story within itself, inviting viewers to lose themselves in its digital depths in first-person or third-person.
Scionti's background as an Architectural Visualization Specialist with over 15 years of experience informs his work, ensuring that each scene is not just technically proficient but also artistically compelling.
Having lived and worked in various parts of the world, Scionti brings a diverse perspective to his digital creations. His portfolio spans multiple disciplines from lighting to texturing, low/high poly modeling, and environmental design for both the Archviz and gaming industries.
With his extensive knowledge and use of numerous 3D software tools, Scionti's work continues to inspire and lead in the visualization community, as seen in the haunting vistas of "The Dark Forest."
We're continually blown away by what Pasquale produces and this isn't the first time we've written about his work.
If you'd like to keep up with his projects, you can find him on ArtStation, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
