Using Unreal Engine for AR and VR Development

The introduction of AR and VR in the gaming industry is taking user engagement and revenue generation forward in leaps and bounds, all thanks to the minimized gap between the physical and digital environments that are refining the gaming experience of the users. To be specific, this surge has been a result of the dynamic audio-visual effects, the natural player-to-character interaction, photorealistic 3D graphics, and engaging levels, characters, and mechanics of the game. 

The gaming industry is brewing with innovation and new technology trends. There was augmented and virtual reality making breakthrough advances and with the Unreal Engine coming into the picture, the level of headway has been phenomenal for any Unreal game development company around.

Even though Unreal has been a popular choice for game app developers among other 3D game engines, this multifaceted development platform empowers developers to create visually stunning and immersive video games. Let’s understand the array of features that create such next-level user experiences.

How Unreal Engine is Used for AR and VR Development

Let’s take the example of the biggest VR game pulled off to date, The Walking Dead Onslaught is Survios’. The game is based on AMC’s popular television show and what made it such a great hit was the use of Unreal Engine to naturally develop exceptional replicas of assets from the show - such as the variety of weapons, characters, buildings, and environments. The different components of Unreal tech allowed the creators to create a feature-fed game while maintaining its performance. That said, other favorable features of the world’s most open and advanced creation tool include -

OpenXR-enabled Unreal Engine

The Unreal engine allows developers to create AR and VR experiences that are immersive and engaging and uses OpenXR to flexibly deploy such experiences or systems to any platform and device. OpenXR is a royalty-free standard that also offers several OpenXR extension plugins (mentioned below) in Unreal Engine that add functionality to OpenXR without relying on engine releases.

Professional Unreal Engine AR toolsets

The Unreal Engine AR frameworks are used to build AR applications using a single code path. It also supports the advanced functionality offered by ARCore 1.7 and ARKit 3.0.

ARCore 1.7

ARKit 3.0 

Real-time Rendering

One of the standout Unreal Engine features is its support for real-time rendering. Developers can create realistic environments using a range of tools and features that react to user input in real time, delivering a responsive and engaging experience. Additionally, the engine boasts advanced graphics and physics systems, essential for crafting realistic and visually striking AR and VR experiences. It uses advanced rendering techniques, such as dynamic lighting, shadows, and reflections, to create a highly realistic and immersive environment. 

The Preferred Choice for AAA games

Unreal Engine is well-documented and has great tools for the game development discipline that reduce the manual and resource-intensive tasks in game development. Some of the best AAA games built in the Unreal engine are Gears 5, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Resident Evil 4 VR, among others. In terms of animation, lighting, and creating geometry, Unreal engine is doing a great job making it a preferable choice for most game developers.

The Blueprint Visual Scripting System

Based on the idea of a node-based interface, the blueprint system in the Unreal engine creates gameplay elements. This powerful system lets even non-programmers use their range of tools and baseline systems usually only available to programmers. This is a step-by-step approach with templates and mechanics for anyone who wants to create a functional game. Users can gain experience and expertise by using blueprints that can be used to work on other game genres like making customizations or creating new AI and game mechanics.

Unreal Engine Marketplace

The Unreal Engine marketplace features free digital assets and content such as characters, blueprints, plugins, animations, and environments for the game development cycles. Its advanced 3D creation tools empower developers to build photoreal visuals for immersive experiences.

Access to Custom and Full Source Code

With Unreal engine, you can build a custom-made engine that bests suit your requirements. Access to the source code generates transparency and gives the users a clear picture of the how and whereabouts of the source. This allows the users to compile the engine from the source.

Spatial Audio in AR and VR Development

The Unreal engine's built-in tools for creating spatial audio add layers of immersion to AR and VR experiences. Spatial audio creates the impression of sound originating from distinct locations within the virtual environment, amplifying the sense of presence.

Comprehensive Development Environment

The comprehensive development environment in Unreal engine provides a suite of tools for designing, prototyping and testing AR and VR applications. This environment includes features like a visual scripting language, debugging tools, and real-time collaboration, making it easier for teams to work together and create high-quality AR and VR experiences.

The Future of Unreal Engine in AR and VR Development

“I believe we're in this long-term transition to augmented reality, that in 10 years we won't be sitting in front of monitors or smartphones or using keyboards or mice at all, but we'll be wearing something literally with the convenience and form factor of your Oakley sunglasses and that will have 8K displays per eye and it will be your window into both the real world and virtual world,” says Tim Sweeney in an interview. (Source: Polygon)

More and more people seek to experience immersive digital environments, and why not. This has resulted in an increased demand for high-quality AR and VR development tools and development. So interestingly for a long time now, the Unreal engine has been a promising tool that has demonstrated its capabilities in the gaming world. With its powerful features and comprehensive development environment, Unreal Engine is well-positioned to create cutting-edge AR and VR experiences in a wide range of industries. As AR and VR technologies continue to evolve and become more widely adopted, this game engine will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of these exciting and innovative technologies.

Looking toward the future, there are certain applications of this powerful engine in AR and VR development that show great potential for advancement. XR has become an integral part of our daily lives and with Unreal Engine’s capabilities, game designers will build more well-designed and lifelike experiences. 

Also read: Core Points To Consider Before Hiring A Game Developer

Final thoughts

Unreal Engine is leading the charge in AR and VR development, providing a platform that is versatile, dynamic, and comprehensive. As AR and VR continue to gain popularity, the engine will continue to be at the forefront of delivering unforgettable, interactive experiences to users. Developers at Logic Simplified, a top Unreal game development company, have been using this gaming engine since time immemorial to explore a new world of development by bringing amazing innovation in AR and VR development. We use a wide range of tools and techniques to captivate game artists that will in turn bring success to the game owners, our clients. If you want any suggestions or have any queries regarding the Unreal game engine, look no further and contact us at enquiry@logicsimplified.com