What is Unreal Engine 5 and what can it do? Explained

What is Unreal Engine 5?

Unreal Engine 5 is the latest version of the long-running game development engine used to create some of the most anticipated upcoming titles.

It is one of the most popular engines in the industry, alongside Unity, and is used by game studios such as Square Enix, Konami, Xbox, PlayStation, and many more.

Ark 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and Hellblade 2 are some of the most notable upcoming games that will use the engine.

What can Unreal Engine 5 do?

Unreal Engine 5 is capable of creating 2D and 3D games for all major platforms.

The tools included with the software allow for impressive lighting and visuals using its new “Lumen” and “Nanite” technology, as well as the ability to build any genre of game you want, from first-person shooters to city builders to role-playing titles. Game elements such as sound, physics, controls, and even multiplayer functionality can also be configured directly within the engine.

It is not only used to create games but it has also been used to create in-game cinematics over the years, pushing the limits of its visual capabilities and resulting in life-like cutscenes that can be easily implemented within the same program.

Why is Unreal Engine so popular?

The combination of an easy-to-use interface and flexibility is what makes Unreal Engine 5 so popular among game developers.

As previously stated, the engine is capable of allowing developers to create virtually any game they desire, with the user interface making it clear what tools are available and allowing them to be easily accessed at any time.

It's also worth noting that it's free to use until a project generates $1 million in revenue, at which point Epic Games will require 5% of any future revenue in royalties.