Unreal Engine

Game Development with Unreal Engine (C++)

Unreal Engine is the second most popular graphics engine and software environment for creating game development products and 3D animation. UE has established itself as a versatile tool, providing stability, flexibility, and high-quality visuals. Game development with Unreal Engine opens up vast opportunities, from indie projects to big-budget, globally successful AAA titles. Dozens of popular games worldwide, including Fortnite, Mortal Kombat 11, and Borderlands 3, are built on UE.

What is Unreal Engine?

Unreal Engine is the second most popular game engine after Unity. It was created by the American company Epic Games in 1998. It is a software environment that serves as the foundation for creating game projects, simulators, simulations, and visualizations. It allows for working with characters, graphics, physics, and logic.

In addition to custom game development on Unreal Engine (C++), the engine is actively used in architecture, medicine, the automotive and film industries, and marketing.

UE's unique feature is its strong optimization; it's a tool designed for 3D games, and recently, 2D games as well. Several versions of the engine exist, with Unreal Engine 4 currently the most popular for game development. However, the improved version 5 was recently released, and game development products built on versions 2 and 3 still exist. With each update, the tool enables the creation of even more realistic and detailed games.

Arionis works with the latest engine versions. If you need game developers for Unreal Engine 4 and 5, contact us. We'll create a high-quality product that meets modern requirements and industry trends.

Benefits of UE for Business

Unreal Engine game development is commissioned by companies, individual clients, and publishers focused on high-quality products with powerful graphics and realistic physics. Corporations and brands also use Unreal Engine projects for gamified marketing, VR/AR products, and 3D presentations.

What are the benefits of developing games on Unreal Engine (C++) for businesses?

High-quality graphics and visualization

UE delivers photorealistic next-gen graphics that approach cinematic quality, especially when creating games using Unreal Engine 4 and 5. This is a significant competitive advantage, as in the game development industry, these are key factors influencing user acquisition and the commercial success of a product.

The engine offers flexible graphics settings with a variety of visual effects and textures for modifying objects, allowing for visual experimentation by varying parameters. UE also features an internal Cascade tool for generating ultra-realistic fine particles (precipitation, etc.), allowing for excellent detail in the game world.

Cutting-edge animation

Unreal Engine offers the Blueprints Animation module for animating characters and objects. Motion patterns for different models can be customized to suit the needs of a specific project, and it's also possible to create animations from scratch, which is convenient for implementing custom solutions.

Performance

• Powerful optimization and game development in C++

C++ is a popular and fast programming language that allows for efficient program optimization. This makes games created with Unreal Engine often more performant than their Unity counterparts. Application performance and size also play a significant role when choosing an engine. Games developed with Unreal Engine take up significantly less space than those written in Unity. C++ makes game development more flexible.

• Blueprints Language

Game programming in C++ is much more complex than with other languages. When working on projects, not only programmers but also non-programmers interact with the engine. Therefore, Epic Games created its own language for Unreal Engine – Blueprints. It allows for codeless programming using visual blocks, simplifying and accelerating certain stages of game development on Unreal Engine.

Cross-platform and porting

Products written in Unreal Engine can be customized for PC, console platforms (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo), browsers, mobile, and VR/AR devices. The engine enables development for popular operating systems and platforms. Games built on Unreal Engine can also be ported from one platform to another. This allows games created with Unreal Engine 4 and 5 to expand their reach, diversify the user experience, and increase monetization potential.

Flexibility and scalability

UE is effective for any genre, platform, and budget—from indie platformers and arcade games to AAA projects. The tool enables rapid and efficient scaling of IT products, including open-world online games with millions of users and impressive VR projects.

Support for modern technologies

Projects built on Unreal Engine 4 and 5 integrate seamlessly with AR/VR technologies, supporting ray tracing, artificial intelligence, procedural generation, and more. This opens up broad opportunities for the development of not only gaming products, but also simulations, architectural, marketing, and educational solutions.

AI setup

For working with AI, UE includes a Behavior Trees tool with flowcharts of predefined behaviors and reactions for non-player characters. Also, since games are developed in C++, AI character behavior can be customized in that language as well.

Cost optimization (built-in tools and free access)

With a wide range of built-in solutions, plugins, assets, and access to the Marketplace, businesses can reduce the cost of developing games on Unreal Engine (C++) while delivering a product with impressive, realistic lighting and detail:

• Sequencer – for animation and cinematic cutscenes;
• Chaos – for working with physics and destruction;
• Lumen – for lighting and shadows;
• AI Behavior Trees – development of products using artificial intelligence technologies.

The engine's extensive toolkit reduces the cost of development and accelerates the time-to-market of gaming products, allowing more time to focus on game mechanics and content.

• Flexible license

Epic Games takes a 5% royalty on a game's revenue only after the project starts generating over $1 million annually – at that point, access to the tools is free. This significantly reduces the cost and overall price of game development on Unreal Engine (C++), making it especially beneficial for startups, small businesses, and indie teams.

Stability and relevance of the engine

When ordering game development on Unreal Engine (C++), clients always receive a stable product thanks to constant tool updates and access to updates. This is ensured by an active professional community and regular technical support from the engine's developer, Epic Games.

The engine is used by world-renowned studios and corporations, including NASA, BMW, and Marvel, which confirms its reliability and stability.

Separate sound module

Unreal Engine's built-in tools allow for flexible audio customization: accessible software allows for switching audio files to match scenes and actions, adjusting volume, mixing, and applying sound effects. The Sound Cue module allows for customization of music, dialogue, lines, and background sounds.

If you're planning a game, interactive product, or visual simulator, Unreal Engine is a platform that provides a robust technological foundation for projects of virtually any scale and scope. Whether you need to create a game using Unreal Engine 4 or 5, the specialists at Arionis Games will bring your ideas to life.

What games is Unreal Engine suitable for?

UE was originally created for shooter games, but today, especially after the release of UE4 and UE5, its capabilities have almost no genre limitations.

Despite their initial focus on 3D graphics (2D game development only really took off with the release of UE4), the fourth- and fifth-generation engines are also well-suited for creating 2D games in C++ for platforms such as PC, mobile, VR, AR, consoles, and browsers. These games can include action, shooters, adventure, strategy, role-playing games, and more.

Games for PC and consoles

Unreal Engine is traditionally used for developing computer and game development products. For example, RPG development on Unreal Engine 4 for PC and consoles is very popular. UE is suitable for both high-budget projects and smaller-budget indie games that still boast good graphics and optimization.

Mobile game development on UE

As the platform evolved, mobile apps began to be created on it, and today , Android game development using Unreal Engine 4 is also a popular service. 3D games are most often created on UE, but 2D projects aimed at the mobile market are also successfully implemented. Optimization for iOS and Android is possible.

The main game genres that can be created using Unreal Engine (C++):

• First- and third-person shooters. Shooter development using Unreal Engine 4 and 5 is popular due to their high level of detail, advanced physics, animation, and multiplayer.
• RPG. UE is also actively used for role-playing games, as it allows for open worlds, character customization, and quest systems.
• Platformers and adventures. The high-quality graphics and animation provided by the engine allow for a cinematic experience, and interaction with the surrounding environment is also possible.
• Sports and racing games powered by Unreal Engine are popular due to their realistic physics, VR support, and multiplayer capabilities.
• Fighting games are also successfully developed on UE due to its high performance, multiplayer, and animation speed.
• Simulators and sandboxes based on the Unreal Engine are popular due to their ability to create large open levels, complex logic, and mod support.
• Games with VR and AR technologies are implemented on Unreal Engine thanks to the engine's support for VR platforms (Oculus, Vive, etc.) and interactive options.

If you're interested in developing a game using Unreal Engine 4 or 5 in any genre, please contact us. With years of experience in game development and working with Unreal Engine, the Arionis team successfully implements projects of various scales and specifics.

Features of game development in Unreal Engine 4 and 5

The main advantages of Unreal Engine are photorealistic graphics, realistic physics, and rapid development. Unreal Engine is more efficient than Unity for implementing complex game scenes and is easier to work with, saving the client time and resources.

Unreal Engine 4

Unreal Engine 4 is a universal game engine with a wide range of tools for creating 2D and 3D games for most popular platforms. Its support for the C++ language allows for the efficient implementation of high-load projects, while Blueprints simplifies game logic, prototyping, and testing of ideas, accelerating production. Game development with Unreal Engine 4 is often used for large and complex projects that fully immerse players in a virtual world with high-quality graphics.

The tool uses real-time HD rendering, ray tracing, virtual texturing, and sophisticated lighting to deliver photorealistic graphics without sacrificing performance.

UE4 supports VR/AR technologies, is multiplatform (iOS, Android, Windows PC, Linux and macOS, PlayStation consoles, Nintendo Switch and Xbox) and is easily ported.

Other advantages of developing games on Unreal Engine 4 include the availability of assets for building open worlds, cinematic lighting, the ability to visually write scripts, an animation grid, object physics, SI technologies, material rendering, and memory optimization.

Of particular note is the open source code, which allows the engine's functionality to continue to expand and improve.

Unreal Engine 5: differences from UE4

Unreal Engine 5 is the latest generation of Unreal Engine, which Epic Games made available in 2022. It combines all the benefits of the previous fourth version and adds an expanded stack of ready-made technologies and assets for game development.

UE5 also supports C++ and Blueprints (these technologies can be used in parallel, translating code in both directions) and is compatible with the previous version of the engine - games created on UE4 can be easily ported to UE5.

Difference between UE4 and UE5

Dynamic level of detail

The surface of 3D models in the game world is made up of polygons—the more detailed an object, the more polygons it contains. Therefore, loading a large number of detailed objects significantly increases the load on players' devices.

Developers address this issue by using different levels of detail—the farther an object is from the player, the less detailed it becomes. To achieve this, they create multiple image versions with varying quality, including when developing games in Unreal Engine 4.

UE5 supports Nanite, a micropolygon geometry system that allows models with billions of polygons to be used without normals or low-poly optimization, without sacrificing performance. This technology automatically reduces polygon count as the distance to an object increases, simplifying developers' work and making it faster and cheaper to create games with high-quality graphics.

Real-time global illumination

Working with light is one of the most complex and labor-intensive stages in the production of gaming products.

In Unreal Engine 5 game development, realistic global illumination and rendering are provided by the built-in Lumen system, eliminating the need for pre-baking. UE4 uses Lightmass for this purpose, which requires baking and takes longer to achieve a similar level of realism.

Both UE4 and UE5 support ray tracing, similar to filmmaking. However, UE5 implements the Temporal Super Resolution algorithm, which allows for upscaling image quality to 4K by temporarily increasing the sample rate. Thanks to Lumen technology, frame rates on next-gen consoles can reach 60 fps thanks to high scalability for reflections and global illumination.

Open worlds (World Partition)

When creating games in Unreal Engine 5, a new open-world management system called World Partition is used, which automatically divides levels into individual elements and loads them as needed. In UE4, this is done manually—levels must be divided manually.

With the release of UE5, creating virtual universes has become easier and faster. For example, the Megascans library provides access to 16,000 unique assets with customization options for creating new objects: plants, debris, vehicles, and more. The Quixel app lets you 3D scan real-world objects and turn them into in-game elements.

Also available for Unreal Engine 5 game development is the Metahumans tool, which allows you to create realistic characters, customizing their appearance with facial features, wrinkles, hair, and other details to achieve unique looks.

An additional benefit of UE5 is the ability to render real-world scenes using detailed geospatial data from anywhere on the planet. This data can be automatically loaded via the Cesium tool.

Audio

UE4 uses less flexible Sound Cues systems, while UE5 offers full graph-level control over audio systems.

Animation

When developing games on Unreal Engine 5, you have access to the advanced capabilities of the built-in Control Rig and Full Body IK systems, allowing you to animate characters directly in the editor without the need for third-party software, with the ability to export animations.

Improved editor

Both engine versions have a user-friendly interface, but Unreal Engine 4 requires constant switching between windows. UE5 offers a flexible settings system, a new outliner, and an improved context mode that speeds up production.

In version 5, the workflow is simpler and faster – high-quality assets (3D models, textures) are imported directly without the need for pre-processing.

Performance and support

Despite its stability and widespread support, UE4 is gradually becoming obsolete. Unreal Engine 5 is more efficient when working with multi-core processors and modern GPUs and is actively developed and supported.

The choice between UE4 and UE5 depends on the specific project's goals. Arionis offers game development services for Unreal Engine (C++) in both versions—please contact us.

Stages of game creation on Unreal Engine 4 and 5

At Arionis Games, the game development process on Unreal Engine, as with other engines, is divided into five key stages:

1. Pre-production – briefing, concept development, defining goals and objectives, market and audience analysis, drafting game design documentation, discussing deadlines and budgets, team building, and prototyping basic gameplay to test the concept and gather feedback.
2. Production – development of the product's frontend and backend (gameplay, logic, graphics, content, level design, UX/UI design, assembly for different devices).
3. Testing – checking all elements of the game, collecting feedback from users, detecting and fixing bugs in preparation for release.
4. Release – the release of a game to the market, publication in online stores (Play Market, App Store, etc. – depending on the platform and type of device).
5. Post-release technical support – content updates, temporary events and updates (new levels, characters, skins, etc.).

A structured approach to game production is the key to delivering a quality product on time.

We discussed the development stages and the scope of work for each stage in more detail here .

Cooperation formats

Game development on Unreal Engine from scratch

Despite the vast technical capabilities of the Unreal Engine engine and the automation of many production processes, custom game development in Unreal Engine (C++) is a complex, multi-layered process that requires specialized knowledge and a strategic approach. Arionis Games specialists will create a turnkey game for you:

• will provide a team of developers with the necessary competencies and experience;
• analyze the market, target audience and niche;
• will work out the concept and style of the future game development product and characters;
• will compile game design documentation;
• prepare prototypes of gameplay and core mechanics;
• conduct a soft launch to test hypotheses and refine the game before release based on feedback;
• launch the project into production;
• will provide prompt and regular post-release support for the project.

A step-by-step, iterative workflow guarantees high-quality results, efficiency, and complete control over the game development process. You can read more about the stages of game development at Arionis on this page.

Arionis specialists will provide you with the cost of game development services on Unreal Engine (C++) and an estimated project completion timeline for a preliminary consultation – please contact us.

Co-developing a game with your team

In addition to full-cycle game development on Unreal Engine (C++), Arionis Studio offers project-based game development: outsourcing, outstaffing, and provision of a dedicated IT team.

These collaboration formats allow us to meet project needs, optimize the production process, release preparation, and cost of work.

The workflow and cost of services in each case depend on the specifics of the project, the team required to implement the tasks, goals, and the production stage at which you need to engage Arionis specialists. Contact us for a consultation.

Technologies we use in game development on Unreal Engine 4 and 5

Creating a game on Unreal Engine requires a structured approach, deep expertise, an understanding of the market, audience needs, trends, and a powerful technology stack.

When working with UE, Arionis developers use the following technologies:

• Graphics: Nanite, Lumen, Ray Tracing, Post Processing, Material Editor.
• Programming and logic: C++, Blueprints, AI Systems.
• Working with the game world and scenes: World Partition, Level Streaming, Landscape System.
• Physics and animation: Chaos Physics, Niagara, Control Rig & Full Body IK, MetaHuman.
• Online solutions and multiplayer: Replication System, Dedicated Servers, Online Subsystems.
• Integrations and other tools: Quixel Megascans, Live Link, Data Layers.

When developing game development products on Unreal Engine, Arionis Games specialists utilize a wide range of technologies that ensure high-quality graphics, high performance, and product scalability.