GRcade

twitter.com/NotCassim/status/1260582390365327361

despite being demonstrated on PlayStation 5 specifically, Unreal Engine 5 is a cross-platform endeavour, just like its predecessors.

UE5 gets its first public release early in 2021 with franchise juggernaut Fortnite transitioning across from UE4 later on in the same year. Unlike UE4, however, the new iteration of the engine isn't a clean break from the past. It has the same system targets as UE4, meaning it'll run on anything from the most high-end PCs to old Android and iOS devices, encompassing current-gen consoles too - including Switch. Obviously though, you can't expect the same level of fidelity as the fully-fledged next-gen experience revealed today.

Today's announcements go beyond Unreal Engine 5. Epic is opening up the online infrastructure that powers Fortnite to any developer who wants it, even if the game itself doesn't run on Unreal Engine and even if it's Steam-only. This includes access to Epic's server infrastructure and cross-play functionality that's officially sanctioned by all console platform holders.

The Unreal Engine 5 tech demo gives us an emphatic answer - a new level of detail and fidelity we've never seen before - and apparently, there's much more to come. Hardware accelerated ray tracing will be supported in Unreal Engine 5, for example, but it's not a part of the PS5 tech demo revealed today. We'll have more soon on this remarkable piece of technology, but in the meantime, enjoy this first taste of what the next generation can really deliver.

Saint of Killers wrote:I know it was a tech demo and not a gameplay demo, but my heart sank at seeing so many current gen and even previous gen touchstones. Namely squeezing through tight gaps (I thought SSD's were going to put pay to that?) and pre-determined clambering points. But yes, it all looked... nice.

Sweeney with the scripted PS5 PR puff piece at the start of the interview :cringe:

KK wrote:I was watching on an iPad Air 2 through its speakers, and even there what was immediately apparent was the massively improved audio.

Aside from the blatant similarities to current generation Tomb Raider, I couldn't help but wish for a new Indiana Jones game as I was watching it.

KK wrote:Even if the player is being funnelled down a narrow path, at least this actually shows off the next gen difference in terms of graphics. So far it's all been a bit too Digital Foundry PS4 Pro/Xbox One X face-off where you're desperately trying to convince the wife there's a difference and she's just looking at you thinking why she didn't marry Gary at number 45. strawberry floating Gary.