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[onesvenus]

The best part of it for me is:

fostering cross-studio animation technology collaboration and animation technology initiatives across XGS

This is what I want to see across Xbox game studios. Something like Sony's ICE team would be amazing with all the computer graphics folks they have across XGS and Bethesda

Undead Labs might be building an Unreal Engine 5 animation studio in Orlando, Florida

Today the Twitter user @eXtas1stv discovered an interesting LinkedIn page. Simon Sherr, the technical animation consultant for the Unreal Engine 5

xboxera.com

 

[reksveks]

They have mentioned want to introduce some more cross studio knowledge sharing within XGS. This is something that the Bethesda team already did quite well/often but yeah, think MS need to get that process working especially when it comes to using UE5.

 

[Max Payne’s Baretta]

This could be incredible.

 

[RoboFu]

Just as long as all their games don’t start to look the same.. sure

 

[Max Payne’s Baretta]

Just as long as all their games don’t start to look the same.. sure

Does every UE4 game look the same?

 

[RoboFu]

Does every UE4 game look the same?

Yeah .. games with in the same art direction group all have the same look. It’s always been one of the cons associated with using The unreal engine.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

This might not end well when being reliant on a 3rd party engine with potential Tencent takeover.

Does every UE4 game look the same?

Not only on UE4-5, but any studio using Quixel Megascans might end up looking the same. It's like Hellbalde 2 looking like Death Stranding as both are using Iceland assets from Quixel Megascans or Sony's own (movie) library from Iceland.

 

[nightmare-slain]

Just as long as all their games don’t start to look the same.. sure

all these games look the same to you?

 

[AphexTwunt]

I see the FUD and concern is already flowing.

 

[Punished Miku]

I've had lots of great times with animation. Much more fun than static images.

 

[reksveks]

I see the FUD and concern is already flowing.

Yeah, it is a bit weird.

It's like saying every image out of photoshop or lightroom looks the same. If you use the same templates, no shit but they typically arent

 

[Negotiator101]

Undead labs eh, these guys really need to step up their tech so this is a positive move. With Ninja theory and the Coalition being tech wizards this shared work environment is just what the Doctor ordered.

 

[CeeJay]

This might not end well when being reliant on a 3rd party engine with potential Tencent takeover.



Not only on UE4-5, but any studio using Quixel Megascans might end up looking the same. It's like Hellbalde 2 looking like Death Stranding as both are using Iceland assets from Quixel Megascans or Sony's own (movie) library from Iceland.

A huge part of the industry is developing on UE so it's not like Tencent would just cut off third parties using it if they get a majority share, it's a very attractive acquisition because of that not in spite of it. Even if Tencent did do that though, xgs have more than enough talent to develop their own universal engine that they could migrate to if forced to. UE though is a good choice for them at the moment because it's tried and tested across a wide variety of hardware and OS. Microsoft are currently putting their games everywhere they can so it makes sense to leverage an engine that works everywhere too. If they decided that they wanted to start publishing on PlayStation for example then a game developed on UE is going to be an easy port. There's nothing stopping them from also developing a universal engine on the back burner and with the talent that they have are probably in a better position to do that than you would like to give them credit for.

 

[YoshiMax]

They literally share tech like mad already you live or die as a mass publisher doing this; The water in anything MSG is from SOT. The physics engine in FH is from FM. Unreal are out to kill the likes of Unity this gen (they won’t) I’m amazed it’s MS not Sony who have got their finger in the pie first.

 

[Max Payne’s Baretta]

This might not end well when being reliant on a 3rd party engine with potential Tencent takeover.



Not only on UE4-5, but any studio using Quixel Megascans might end up looking the same. It's like Hellbalde 2 looking like Death Stranding as both are using Iceland assets from Quixel Megascans or Sony's own (movie) library from Iceland.

Lol no

 

[Max Payne’s Baretta]

Yeah .. games with in the same art direction group all have the same look. It’s always been one of the cons associated with using The unreal engine.

Lol ok dev

 

[Black_Stride]

all these games look the same to you?

The whole Unreal Engine games look alike thing is true fud.
There are aspects of Unreal that bleed through without good direction.

 

[Black_Stride]

This might not end well when being reliant on a 3rd party engine with potential Tencent takeover.



Not only on UE4-5, but any studio using Quixel Megascans might end up looking the same. It's like Hellbalde 2 looking like Death Stranding as both are using Iceland assets from Quixel Megascans or Sony's own (movie) library from Iceland.

Tencent takeover?
Unless Tim Sweeney sells all his shares Tencent aint taking over shit.
Granted im not saying its an impossibility, but from the smell of things, the current Epic or even Remedy investment from Tencent Holdings seems more a finacial thing that a direction thing.


And even the whole using the Megascans library is also fake concern.
You;d literally have to drag drop assets and all their materials to have games looking the same.
Even using assets from the same drop, two seconds in Mixer and you;d be hard pressed to say two of the same library look the same.

 

[Ozriel]

This might not end well when being reliant on a 3rd party engine with potential Tencent takeover.

2022 is bringing in some truly strange takes.

Unreal engine is an industry staple. Tencent or not, it's going absolutely nowhere.

C'mon, man.

 

[Great Hair]

Undead Labs ...

 

[DaGwaphics]

A huge part of the industry is developing on UE so it's not like Tencent would just cut off third parties using it if they get a majority share, it's a very attractive acquisition because of that not in spite of it. Even if Tencent did do that though, xgs have more than enough talent to develop their own universal engine that they could migrate to if forced to. UE though is a good choice for them at the moment because it's tried and tested across a wide variety of hardware and OS. Microsoft are currently putting their games everywhere they can so it makes sense to leverage an engine that works everywhere too. If they decided that they wanted to start publishing on PlayStation for example then a game developed on UE is going to be an easy port. There's nothing stopping them from also developing a universal engine on the back burner and with the talent that they have are probably in a better position to do that than you would like to give them credit for.

They have access to ID now, which have a good reputation with their engine. If pressed they could probably make that more universal if needed.

At any rate, consolidating knowledge seems like a good thing regardless. The more streamlined they are in development the better that is for us.

 

[yurinka]

Yep, to use the same game engine doesn't mean to have the art style. Some UE examples more, this time from fighting games:

 

[onesvenus]

Death Stranding as both are using Iceland assets from Quixel Megascans or Sony's own (movie) library from Iceland.

Do you have a source on Death Stranding using Quixel or Sony's own library?

 

[sinnergy]

Dead Stranding and horizon sure look the same … same engine ..

Why would this be a problem for UE5?

 

[Max Payne’s Baretta]

Do you have a source on Death Stranding using Quixel or Sony's own library?

Lol he doesn’t.

 

[Negotiator101]

Do you have a source on Death Stranding using Quixel or Sony's own library?

He doesn't, NT went on location and took thier own scans of Iceland, he's talking nonsense.

 

[Bernkastel]

He doesn't, NT went on location and took thier own scans of Iceland, he's talking nonsense.

Indeed. For those still thinking Ninja Theory took Iceland assets from some digital library.

 

[Leyasu]

This might not end well when being reliant on a 3rd party engine with potential Tencent takeover.



Not only on UE4-5, but any studio using Quixel Megascans might end up looking the same. It's like Hellbalde 2 looking like Death Stranding as both are using Iceland assets from Quixel Megascans or Sony's own (movie) library from Iceland.

Wtf? Lol

So tencent who are magically going to buy epic are then going to lock companies away from one of the reasons why they would be interested in epic. What an amazing fanboy nonsense attempt. 10 out of 10 for trying

 

[Imtjnotu]

Everything on unreal 3 looked the same lol.

Nothing about unreal engine 5 looks anything like every other game.

If we can approach the mandolorian use of this engine this gen will finish with a bang

 

[oldergamer]

Does every UE4 game look the same?

no. is that a serious question???

 

[oldergamer]

Bo Hazem should GTFO of this thread with that fanboy nonsense. Trying to create some type of negatives towards this happening is pathetic.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Do you have a source on Death Stranding using Quixel or Sony's own library?

Nope, both are using assets from Iceland, or similar terrains with those blackish, volcanic terrains that are tree-less. Why? Iceland is extremely famous and unique with its terrains, exotic enough to attract a lot of people/companies. Watching both they definitely are using assets from there.

Hellblade 2? Using UE5 already, why not use Megascans that comes free with it then? Especially for a small studio that can't afford the teams to travel abroad and make their own assets. EA used and uses Quixel Megascans as well, many other games/movies do as well with or without UE.

Hellbalde 2 (reveal footage)

Real scene:

Death Stranding

Go to google images and type "Iceland" and learn something or two.

 

[tusharngf]

how much money MS is spending on doing these things? Is there an end to this cash flow?

 

[Kilau]

The whole Unreal Engine games look alike thing is true fud.
There are aspects of Unreal that bleed through without good direction.

The stigma from UE3. The plastic shine and signature texture pop in. Never got that impression with UE4.

 

[Max Payne’s Baretta]

how much money MS is spending on doing these things? Is there an end to this cash flow?

A lot. It’s the benefit of being a multi trillion dollar company. Levels

 

[GymWolf]

I'm open to whatever shit they do to improve graphic\animations in their games.

 

[elliot5]

How do some of y’all read animation technology and jump to thinking the games may end up “looking” the same?

Like does using mocap in a game result in the game looking the same…? And it’s not game engine specific. It’s just Ue4/5 is going to be the main engine and has pretty good support for mocap and other animation technology.

 

[Thirty7ven]

Man all this wizardry, JK Rowling about to ask for a cut.

 

[GymWolf]

Since when hogwarts is made with ue5?!

Jeez that pic looks damn good.

 

[Genx3]

how much money MS is spending on doing these things? Is there an end to this cash flow?

No.

 

[anthony2690]

So what does this mean? What's undead labs role? Or does no one know yet?

I read the comment thread, but it looked like it turned into an argument & a real stupid unreal engine hot take.

 

[sainraja]

Games have been made using Unreal for a while now and they don't look similar so how can anyone even try to say that. That's just silly.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

how much money MS is spending on doing these things? Is there an end to this cash flow?

Undead Labs has less than 100 employees. It's not a gigantic studio.

 

[Vognerful]

Yep, to use the same game engine doesn't mean to have the art style. Some UE examples more, this time from fighting games:

Now that is more surprising contrast to me.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

all these games look the same to you?

Whoa, which game is that?

 

[Mr Reasonable]

how much money MS is spending on doing these things? Is there an end to this cash flow?

Not really, that's what Gamepass is...

 

[Barlow]

Tencent gonna buy Epic now
Concrete Genie looks the same as Days Gone and Gears looks the same as State of Decay
Devs you should stop making Engines it's all the same.

 

[onesvenus]

Nope, both are using assets from Iceland, or similar terrains with those blackish, volcanic terrains that are tree-less. Why? Iceland is extremely famous and unique with its terrains, exotic enough to attract a lot of people/companies. Watching both they definitely are using assets from there.

Go to google images and type "Iceland" and learn something or two.

Before talking shit about other posters you should learn how to read.

Did I question that they were based in Iceland? I was asking for a source about DS or Hellblade using Quixel Megascans or Sony's library. Again, what other games do is irrelevant. Do you have any proof that DS or HB are using Quixel? Or that it used Sony's library?

And about NT not being able to go to Iceland to scan their own things... I've got news for you


New year and you are still making shit up

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

 

[elliot5]

So what does this mean? What's undead labs role? Or does no one know yet?

I read the comment thread, but it looked like it turned into an argument & a real stupid unreal engine hot take.

Undead Labs is growing a lot and look to be “leveling up” their game with SoD3 to be a more AAA experience rather than a bit janky. This support studio looks to be focusing on SOD3 and once wrapping that up will probably help other studios with extra animation support.