Epic Games confirms that its new Unreal Engine 5 demo is playable. Earlier today, Epic revealed the firstUnreal Engine 5 demo of PS5 gameplay, showing fans and developers what could be possible with its new game development technology.
Speaking to Summer Game Fest creator Geoff Keighley after the Unreal Engine 5 reveal, Epic Games chief technology officer Kim Libreri said that it is a “fully playable demo.” The team recorded it by putting it on aPS5devkit and exporting it using a HDMI cable. Libreri also teased that the gameplay demo is “different every time you play it.”
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However, it seems unlikely that Epic Games will be developing the tech demo as a full game or that fans, who won’t have access to a PS5 devkit, will be able to play it on PS5. Officially, the only Epic Games developed-title that will be coming to Unreal Engine 5 isFortnite, which will be moved over to the technology in 2021.
Epic has also confirmed thatFortnitewill be a PS5 and Xbox Series X launch title, making the multiplayer hit Epic’s only announced game for next-generation consoles. The company did release its Unreal Engine 4 demo, Infiltrator, after showing it at GDC 2013 but this is only available from the Epic Games Launcher on PC.
It could also be a while until gamers get to enjoy PS5 and Xbox Series X games that have been developed on Unreal Engine 5. Games likeGodfall, which is a confirmed PS5 launch title, is being developed on Unreal Engine 4. Epic Games has also said that Unreal Engine 5 will not be available to preview until early 2021 before it is released in full later in the year. Any larger games which could really use the Unreal Engine 5’s tools may take a while to develop and are not expected to be available for some time.
This doesn’t mean that next-gen games developed on other game engines won’t look incredible, though, and Microsoft has given fans a glimpse of what to expect in theXbox Series X gameplay reveal. Games likeAssassin’s Creed Valhallawere criticized for not showing true gameplay, heads-up display and all, during the event but their trailers did feature real-time, in-engine scenes. This suggests that while Unreal Engine 5-developed games are a long time away from being ready, the specs of the two next-gen consoles means that great graphics will be possible from launch.
