Editing Unreal Engine (section)

==Usage==
===Video games===
Unreal Engine was originally designed to be used as the underlying technology for video games. The engine is used in a number of high-profile game titles with high graphics capabilities, including ''[[Hogwarts Legacy]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vergara |first=Nico |date=2 February 2023 |title=Is Hogwarts Legacy on Unreal Engine 5? |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/is-hogwarts-legacy-on-unreal-engine-5/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202134315/https://www.videogamer.com/news/is-hogwarts-legacy-on-unreal-engine-5/ |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=27 February 2023 |website=VideoGamer}}</ref> ''[[PUBG: Battlegrounds]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy VII Remake]]'', ''[[Valorant]]'' and ''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]],'' in addition to [[List of games by Epic Games|games developed by Epic]], including ''Gears of War'' and ''Fortnite''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Tim |last2=Kruppa |first2=Miles |title=Epic and Unity rev their engines for the next era of entertainment |url=https://www.ft.com/content/f77b7979-c943-4b9d-b7b7-7953b63bea7e |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200812195345/https://www.ft.com/content/f77b7979-c943-4b9d-b7b7-7953b63bea7e |url-status=dead| archive-date=August 12, 2020|publisher=[[Financial Times]] |date=August 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Tim |last2=Kruppa |first2=Miles |date=2020-08-13 |title=Epic and Unity rev their engines for the next era of entertainment |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/08/epic-and-unity-rev-their-engines-for-the-next-era-of-entertainment/ |access-date= |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us |archive-date=December 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205164714/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/08/epic-and-unity-rev-their-engines-for-the-next-era-of-entertainment/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dealessandri |first=Marie |date=January 16, 2020 |title=What is the best game engine: is Unreal Engine right for you? |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-01-16-what-is-the-best-game-engine-is-unreal-engine-4-the-right-game-engine-for-you |access-date=2021-07-19 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117180234/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-01-16-what-is-the-best-game-engine-is-unreal-engine-4-the-right-game-engine-for-you |url-status=live }}</ref> Polish game developer [[CD Projekt]] is also planning to use the engine after retiring their in-house REDengine; their first game to use Unreal will be a remake of ''[[The Witcher (video game)|The Witcher]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-03-21|title=The Witcher - A New Saga Begins|url=https://www.thewitcher.com/en/news/42167/a-new-saga-begins/|access-date=2022-04-07|archive-date=April 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412081437/https://www.thewitcher.com/en/news/42167/a-new-saga-begins|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/cd-projekt-will-swap-redengine-for-unreal-engine-5-to-create-the-next-i-witcher-i-saga|title=CD Projekt will swap REDengine for Unreal Engine 5 to create the next Witcher saga|website=Game Developer|date=22 March 2022|access-date=April 6, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405234232/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/cd-projekt-will-swap-redengine-for-unreal-engine-5-to-create-the-next-i-witcher-i-saga|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Patel |first=Ashkay |date=9 September 2022 |title=After Cyberpunk 2077's Disastrous Launch, CDPR Is Ditching REDengine For Unreal |url=https://www.thegamer.com/cd-projekt-red-ditching-redengine-for-unreal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119021242/https://www.thegamer.com/cd-projekt-red-ditching-redengine-for-unreal/ |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=The Gamer}}</ref><ref name="eurogamerremake">{{cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=26 October 2022 |title=CD Projekt Red announces remake of first Witcher game |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/cd-projekt-announces-remake-of-first-witcher-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521124637/https://www.eurogamer.net/cd-projekt-announces-remake-of-first-witcher-game |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref> 

Usage of Unreal Engine has been steadily increasing since 2012, from an estimated 17% market share to 28% in 2024, compared to Unity's 50%.<ref name="Creative Bloq 13 February 2025">{{cite web |last1=Foley |first1=Joe |title=Steam data shows the meteoric rise of Unreal Engine for game development |url=https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/unreal-engine-dominates-as-the-most-successful-game-engine-data-reveals |website=Creative Bloq |language=en |date=13 February 2025}}</ref> By sales, Unreal accounts for 31% compared to Unity's 26%, with proprietary engines accounting for a combined 42%, making Unreal the largest engine by units sold.<ref name="Creative Bloq 13 February 2025" />

===Film and television===
Unreal Engine has found use in filmmaking to create virtual sets that can track with a camera's motion around actors and objects and be rendered in real time to large [[light-emitting diode|LED]] screens and atmospheric lighting systems. This allows for real-time composition of shots, immediate editing of the virtual sets as needed, and the ability to shoot multiple scenes within a short period by just changing the virtual world behind the actors. The overall appearance was recognized to appear more natural than typical [[chromakey]] effects.

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Among the productions to use these technologies were the live action television series ''[[The Mandalorian]]'', ''[[Westworld (TV series)|Westworld]]'' and ''[[Fallout (American TV series)|Fallout]]'',<ref>[https://beforesandafters.com/2024/06/05/the-vfx-of-fallout-shooting-on-an-led-volume-on-film-crafting-one-eyed-digital-humans-mixing-practical-and-digital-and-more/ The VFX of ‘Fallout’: shooting on an LED volume on film, crafting one-eyed digital humans, mixing practical and digital, and more]</ref> and the animated series ''[[Zafari]]'' and ''[[Super Giant Robot Brothers]]''. [[Jon Favreau]] and [[Lucasfilm]]'s [[Industrial Light & Magic]] division worked with Epic in developing their [[StageCraft]] technology for ''The Mandalorian'', based on a similar approach Favreau had used in ''[[The Lion King (2019 film)|The Lion King]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lodderhose |first=Diana |date=May 21, 2023 |title=Technologies Like AI & Unreal Engine Are A Having Big Impact On The Entertainment Business, But Where Will It Go From Here? |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/ai-unreal-engine-technology-disruptors-1235364383/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731012628/https://deadline.com/2023/05/ai-unreal-engine-technology-disruptors-1235364383/ |archive-date=July 31, 2023 |access-date=July 31, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Upcoming Animated Series 'Zafari' Is Being Rendered Completely With The Unreal Game Engine |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tools/upcoming-animated-series-zafari-rendered-completely-unreal-game-engine-153123.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073431/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tools/upcoming-animated-series-zafari-rendered-completely-unreal-game-engine-153123.html |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2023 |website=[[Cartoon Brew]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2019/11/19/why-the-mandalorian-cites-fortnite-dev-epic-games-in-its-credits/ | title = Why 'The Mandalorian' cites Fortnite dev Epic Games in its credits | first = Jeff | last = Grubb | date = November 19, 2019 | access-date = August 1, 2020 | work = [[Venture Beat]] | archive-date = January 5, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220105183548/https://venturebeat.com/2019/11/19/why-the-mandalorian-cites-fortnite-dev-epic-games-in-its-credits/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mandalorian-ilm-innovative-stagecraft-tech-220120449.html | title = 'The Mandalorian': How ILM's Innovative StageCraft Tech Created a 'Star Wars' Virtual Universe | first = Bill | last = Desowitz | date = February 20, 2020 | access-date = August 1, 2020 | work = [[Yahoo News]] | archive-date = January 5, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220105121511/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mandalorian-ilm-innovative-stagecraft-tech-220120449.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/tv/2020/2/20/21146152/the-mandalorian-making-of-video-unreal-engine-projection-screen | title = How Lucasfilm used Unreal Engine to make The Mandalorian | first = Owen | last = Good | date = February 20, 2020 | access-date = August 1, 2020 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | archive-date = November 13, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201113105740/https://www.polygon.com/tv/2020/2/20/21146152/the-mandalorian-making-of-video-unreal-engine-projection-screen | url-status = live }}</ref> Favreau then shared this technology approach with ''Westworld'' producers [[Jonathan Nolan]] and [[Lisa Joy]]. The show had already looked at the use of virtual sets before and had some technology established, but integrated the use of Unreal Engine as with StageCraft for its [[Westworld (season 3)|third season]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/westworld-season-3-hbo-lisa-joy-jonathan-nolan-1203529268/ | title = 'Westworld' Showrunners on the Series' Bold New Direction for Season 3 | first = Adam | last = Vary | date = March 12, 2020 | access-date = August 1, 2020 | work = Variety | archive-date = March 9, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220309165413/https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/westworld-season-3-hbo-lisa-joy-jonathan-nolan-1203529268/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Failes |first=Ian |date=June 25, 2020 |title='Westworld's' journey into the LED screen revolution |url=https://beforesandafters.com/2020/06/25/westworlds-journey-into-the-led-screen-revolution/ |access-date=November 17, 2020 |website=Befores & Afters |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105120151/https://beforesandafters.com/2020/06/25/westworlds-journey-into-the-led-screen-revolution/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Orca Studios, a Spanish-based company, has been working with Epic to establish multiple studios for virtual filming similar to the StageCraft approach with Unreal Engine providing the virtual sets, particularly during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], which restricted travel.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2020/tv/global/mandalorian-style-led-volume-orca-studios-opens-spain-1234624036/ | title = 'Mandalorian'-Style Virtual Technology Sound Stage Orca Studios Opens in Spain | first = John | last = Hopewell | date = June 3, 2020 | access-date = August 1, 2020 | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | archive-date = May 7, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210507143232/https://variety.com/2020/tv/global/mandalorian-style-led-volume-orca-studios-opens-spain-1234624036/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

In January 2021, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' announced that Epic was using part of its Epic MegaGrants to back for the first time an animated feature film, ''Gilgamesh'', to be produced fully in Unreal Engine by animation studios Hook Up, DuermeVela and FilmSharks.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2021/01/fortnite-creator-epic-games-animated-movie-gilgamesh-1234676907/ | title = 'Fortnite' Creator Epic Games Makes Foray Into Movies With Animated Pic 'Gilgamesh' | first = Andreas | last = Wiseman | date = January 21, 2021 | access-date = January 21, 2021 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = January 21, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210121194519/https://deadline.com/2021/01/fortnite-creator-epic-games-animated-movie-gilgamesh-1234676907/ | url-status = live }}</ref> As part of an extension of its MegaGrants, Epic also funded 45 additional projects since around 2020 for producing feature-length and short films in the Unreal Engine.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2021/04/26/spire-animation-studios-kicks-off-epic-games-new-unreal-shorts-animated-film-program/ | title = Spire Animation Studios kicks off Epic Games' new Unreal Shorts animated film program | first = Dean | last = Takahashi | date = April 26, 2021 | accessdate = April 26, 2021 | work = [[Venture Beat]] | archive-date = October 6, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211006224802/https://venturebeat.com/2021/04/26/spire-animation-studios-kicks-off-epic-games-new-unreal-shorts-animated-film-program/ | url-status = live }}</ref> By October 2022, Epic was working with several different groups at over 300 virtual sets across the world.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/volume-house-of-the-dragon-stage-mandalorian-1235244158/ | title = Too Much Volume? The Tech Behind 'Mandalorian' and 'House of the Dragon' Faces Growing Pains | first = Carolyn | last = Giardina | date = October 22, 2022 | accessdate = February 5, 2023 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | archive-date = February 4, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230204191351/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/volume-house-of-the-dragon-stage-mandalorian-1235244158/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Unreal Engine was used for [[motion capture]] in ''[[Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (film)|Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=reallusionblog |date=2023-06-30 |title=Lyle, Lyle Crocodile's Real-time VFX brings life to the dancing and singing crocodile. |url=https://magazine.reallusion.com/2023/06/30/lyle-lyle-crocodiles-real-time-vfx-brings-life-to-the-dancing-and-singing-crocodile/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Reallusion Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Other uses===
Unreal Engine has also been used by non-creative fields due to its availability and feature sets. It has been used as a basis for a virtual reality tool to explore pharmaceutical drug molecules in collaboration with other researchers, as a virtual environment to explore and design new buildings and automobiles, and used for cable news networks to support real-time graphics.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/14/the-reason-epic-landed-a-15-billion-valuation-is-not-fortnite-success.html | title = The real reason Epic landed a $15 billion valuation is not Fortnite's viral video game success | first = Erica | last = Yee | date = December 14, 2018 | accessdate = July 19, 2021 | work = [[CNBC]] | archive-date = November 9, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211109100919/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/14/the-reason-epic-landed-a-15-billion-valuation-is-not-fortnite-success.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Some car companies, most prominently including [[Rivian]], use Unreal Engine in their [[In-car entertainment|infotainment]] systems.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/games/rivian-launches-2nd-gen-r1-electric-vehicles-using-unreal-engine-for-dashboard/ | title = Rivian launches 2nd gen R1 electric vehicles using Unreal Engine for dashboard | first = Dean| last = Takahash| date = June 6, 2024 | accessdate = May 6, 2025 | work = VentureBeat }}</ref>

[[File:Unreal Government Network logo.png|250px|right]]
In March 2012, Epic Games announced a partnership with [[Virtual Heroes]] of [[Applied Research Associates]] to launch ''Unreal Government Network'', a program that handles Unreal Engine licenses for government agencies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=March 28, 2012 |title=Epic licensing Unreal Engine 3 for FBI training sim and other 'serious games' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/3/28/2908051/epic-unreal-engine-3-licensed-government-agencies |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115202722/https://www.theverge.com/2012/3/28/2908051/epic-unreal-engine-3-licensed-government-agencies |url-status=live }}</ref> Several projects originated with this support agreement, including an anaesthesiology training software for [[U.S. Army]] physicians, a multiplayer crime scene simulation developed by the [[FBI Academy]], and various applications for the [[Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity]] with the aim to help intelligence analysts recognize and mitigate cognitive biases that might affect their work.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2012 |title=Unreal games engine licensed to FBI and other US agencies |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17535906 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704194051/http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17535906 |archivedate=July 4, 2017 |access-date=July 18, 2017 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brightman |first=James |date=March 27, 2012 |title=Epic Games launches Unreal Government Network for serious games applications |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-03-27-epic-games-launches-unreal-government-network-for-serious-games-applications |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822134542/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-03-27-epic-games-launches-unreal-government-network-for-serious-games-applications |archivedate=August 22, 2016 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]}}</ref> Similarly, the [[DHS Science and Technology Directorate]] and the U.S. Army's [[United States Army Training and Doctrine Command|Training and Doctrine Command]] and [[United States Army Research Laboratory|Research Laboratory]] employed the engine to develop a platform to train [[first responders]] titled ''Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment'' (EDGE).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/army-dhs-join-forces-for-virtual-training-tech-for-first-responders |title=Army, DHS join forces for virtual training tech for first responders |last=Barrie |first=Allison |date=November 21, 2013 |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=June 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116022708/http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/11/21/army-dhs-join-forces-for-virtual-training-tech-for-first-responders.html |archive-date=November 16, 2015 }}</ref>