Transitioning from Unity to UE5: A Cinematic Adventure

After Unity changed its policy, I find myself unable to continue with my long-term projects. Additionally, I was in the midst of developing some editor-based scripts and tools.

With Unreal Engine, I discovered that I can achieve virtually anything I desire in high quality without the need for extensive optimization, thanks to Lumen and Nanite technologies. However, my initial experience with Unreal Engine during my first Epic MegaJam was a bit challenging, as I was using UE4 at the time. This led me to temporarily abandon Unreal Engine. Nevertheless, with the release of UE5, I managed to create a cinematic game in just under seven days. While I didn't document my progress, I do still have some early builds from my previous attempts.

Now, let's delve into the game itself. Initially, I aimed for a highly cinematic experience using MetaHumans, but even the creation of a city environment consumed 3 to 4 days of my time. It became evident that merely generating MetaHumans and integrating them into the game wouldn't suffice. Consequently, I decided to switch gears and develop a first-person puzzle adventure game, similar in style to "What Never Was." The result exceeded my initial cinematic aspirations, leaving me extremely satisfied with my new game engine and long-term project.

If you've completed the game and are eagerly awaiting the next chapter, I anticipate a potential release in January 2024 (possibly). So, please stay tuned for updates.

Transitioning from UE4 to UE5 felt akin to the shift from Blender 2.79 to 2.8. If you've previously grappled with UE4 and encountered difficulties, I highly recommend giving UE5 a try. Its user interface is significantly more visually appealing and user-friendly.