At this year’s Unreal Fest, Epic Games, the powerhouse behind Fortnite, unveiled Unreal Engine 5.5—a major upgrade loaded with impressive new features set to redefine game development and filmmaking alike. This isn’t just about making the next great game—Unreal Engine is transforming big-budget productions like The Mandalorian and director Tim Miller’s animated series Secret Level, which will soon premiere on Amazon.

Empowering Filmmakers with Real-Time Visualization

Epic Games CTO Kim Libreri, known for his VFX work on The Matrix, explained how Unreal Engine 5.5 is a game-changer, particularly with its new “MegaLights” feature. Traditionally, making movies and games were two different beasts—one constrained by budgets, and the other allowed to render pixel-perfect imagery overnight without worrying about performance. But those days are behind us, says Libreri. “Thanks to advancements like MegaLights, you can now put thousands of lights in a scene—no limitations, no sacrifices. You get beautiful, real-time visuals at a cinematic quality.”

Directors Tim Miller (Deadpool, Love, Death + Robots) and Wes Ball (Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) joined Libreri at Unreal Fest to talk about using Unreal Engine in their work. Miller, in particular, broke down how he used the engine for his upcoming Amazon series Secret Level. By pulling in actual video game assets and creating iconic worlds within the engine, Miller has been able to bring famous game IPs to life in a way that wasn’t possible before.

The Revolution of Previsualization

Miller had a lot to say about how Unreal is changing the previsualization (previs) process in filmmaking. In Hollywood, there’s a saying: you make your movie in prep. And Unreal takes this concept to the next level. “With Unreal, you can build and preview whole scenes at such a high quality that they essentially become the blueprint for the movie,” Miller said. “The entire team can see exactly what the finished product is supposed to look like, which means everyone—from set designers to VFX artists—can work with confidence. It’s not just about a rough previs; it’s like having a fully polished model to guide the entire production.”

Miller’s enthusiasm for Unreal’s ability to preview complex sequences comes from the fact that it gets everyone on board from the get-go, generating excitement and creating a shared vision that is rarely achieved so early in production. The ability to iterate in real-time lets filmmakers fine-tune their creative ideas without waiting weeks for final renders.

Big Moves: Paramount Collaboration and Bringing TMNT to Fortnite

One of the highlights of the Unreal Fest presentation was Epic’s collaboration with Paramount, which will see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles joining Fortnite. Using the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), players will soon be able to create their own games and experiences featuring these classic characters. It’s a partnership that opens up a world of possibilities for fans, allowing them to bring beloved franchises to life in an interactive way.

“On the UEFN side, it’s about letting fans take an iconic IP and craft their own experiences with it,” Libreri said. “It’s the beginning of something new—where fans not only get to interact with a franchise but actively create stories within it.” Saxs Persson, Epic’s UEFN chief, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We’re trying to broaden what it means to be a creator. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, you should have the tools to make something that’s visually stunning and impactful. Collaborations like this one make that a reality.”

Breathing Life into Short-Lived Games

Interestingly, Secret Level will also serve as a platform for a game that didn’t quite make it—Sony’s Concord, a short-lived PlayStation live-service title that was recently discontinued. The game may have had a rough launch, but Miller hopes Secret Level will give fans a reason to rediscover it. “Working with the Concord team was an incredible experience,” Miller shared. “We sometimes start using game assets even before a title has launched, and this show preserves their hard work for audiences in a new way. It’s kind of a tribute to what could have been.”

Unreal Engine 6 on the Horizon

While Unreal Engine 5.5 is just being rolled out, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has already teased what’s coming next: Unreal Engine 6. Speaking at the event, Sweeney addressed the challenges of the past year, including layoffs across the industry, but remained optimistic. “I’m happy to report that Epic is financially stable, and Fortnite and the Epic Games Store are reaching new heights in terms of engagement and success,” Sweeney said.

For Tim Miller, the journey isn’t over yet—especially when it comes to closing the gap between live-action and digital content. “We’re getting really close to parity with non-real-time rendering tools, particularly for VFX and animation,” Miller noted. “But there’s still a little way to go. We’re not across the uncanny valley yet. We’re on the slopes of the other side, but there’s more climbing to do. Any tools that help us get across that digital-human divide, to where people’s brains don’t tell them ‘something’s off,’ are going to be crucial.”

The Future of Storytelling: Gaming Meets Hollywood

With the release of Unreal Engine 5.5, it’s clear that Epic Games is redefining what’s possible at the intersection of gaming, filmmaking, and community engagement. The cutting-edge tools being rolled out aren’t just for big studios—they’re designed to be accessible to everyone. Whether you’re an indie developer, a student, or a Hollywood director, you now have the power to create experiences that were once out of reach.

Projects like Secret Level and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles integration into Fortnite illustrate how Epic is blurring the lines between film, gaming, and fan engagement. The more the Unreal Engine advances, the closer we get to a world where the creative limits between different types of media are almost nonexistent, allowing new stories to be told in entirely new ways.

Unreal Fest was more than just a showcase of the latest tech—it was a glimpse into the future of entertainment. And if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that Epic Games is ready to lead the charge.