Video Game Tool Unreal Engine Now Powers Films and Architecture

A tool that started in a 1998 video game is now reshaping how movies, TV shows, and buildings come to life.

Unreal Engine, created by Tim Sweeney for the game "Unreal," has grown far beyond its gaming roots. Today, it powers hit titles like "Black Myth: Wukong" and the upcoming "Tomb Raider" adventures, but its real magic is happening outside gaming entirely.

The software helped create the groundbreaking visuals in "The Mandalorian" and the Oscar-winning short film "War is Over." Architects use it to model buildings before construction begins. Car companies rely on it for navigation systems. News channels deploy it for compelling reconstructions of major stories.

What makes Unreal Engine so popular is surprisingly simple: it just works. "As soon as you create a rough build, it looks really beautiful, it works right away," said Brice Roy, director of France's Institute for Digital Creation and Animation.

About 28 percent of PC games released in 2024 used Unreal Engine, according to data firm Sensor Tower. Game studios love it because they don't need to train developers on proprietary systems. "We don't have to keep teaching people how to use a proprietary tech," explained Scot Amos, director at Crystal Dynamics studio.

The business model is equally revolutionary. Epic Games offers the engine free to game developers, taking just five percent if a project earns over $1 million. Other industries pay around $1,800 per user only if their company makes more than a million annually.

This generosity has created opportunities for independent creators. YouTube tech journalist Sylvain Szewczyk uses Unreal Engine to create interview backgrounds and illustrations for his 540,000 subscribers, treating it as a free tool that elevates his content.

Epic employs 600 people working full-time on Unreal Engine, which now boasts over one million monthly users. The company isn't slowing down either.

The Ripple Effect

Unreal Engine's accessibility is democratizing high-end 3D creation. Independent filmmakers can now achieve visual effects that once required Hollywood budgets. Architecture firms can show clients photorealistic walkthroughs of unbuilt spaces. Students learning the software gain skills instantly transferable across multiple industries.

Epic is pushing boundaries even further. The team is working to support maps up to 300 square kilometers with 100,000 simultaneous players. They're also integrating AI tools that can generate 3D objects and automate repetitive tasks, potentially making professional-quality creation even more accessible.

The tool's success proves that when you lower barriers to creation, innovation flourishes everywhere.