Unreal Engine 5 Deep Dive: Features, Remasters, and Tech

Unreal Engine 5: Early Access and Technology

The team discusses the newly released Unreal Engine 5 early access.
Lumen and Nanite are the focus, with a clarification that Lumen utilizes both software and hardware ray tracing depending on quality settings.
While the demo targets 1080p/30fps on next-gen hardware, the team notes the significant technological leap and potential for developers to optimize workflows.
Concerns regarding high RAM requirements for the editor were addressed, noting that exported executables are much lighter.

Following leaks and teasers, the team discusses the likelihood of Crysis 2 and 3 Remastered, highlighting that the engine's original multi-core awareness makes it a strong candidate for modernization.
The conversation shifts to Uncharted 4 on PC, with the team expressing excitement for opening up the title to higher frame rates beyond the original's 30fps cap.

The episode covers the rumor of a 'Steam PAL' handheld, discussing the challenges of performance in a handheld power envelope, Linux adoption, and the difficulty of optimizing games for mobile form factors.
The return of Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown is analyzed, with the team praising the focus on the fighting game community while debating the lack of rollback netcode.

Project Spotlight: The team previews an ambitious two-hour DF Retro episode covering the entire launch library of the original PlayStation.
Intel Analysis: A look at the Core i5-11400F reveals it as a significant value proposition in the current market, outperforming higher-priced competitors in gaming price-to-performance.
Technical Queries: The team breaks down differences between forward and deferred rendering and discusses the theoretical potential for ML-based frame rate interpolation (DLSS for frame rates).

"There's something really attractive about being able to play your PC games on the go, just like the Switch."