The technology behind augmented reality, also known as AR, is gaining traction faster than ever before. It is used by businesses in a wide variety of sectors to enhance their products, the customer experience, and even workflow. As a result, a growing number of businesses are considering making AR investments in order to take their operations to the next level.
Unreal Engine is frequently the tool of choice for professionals when they are tasked with developing a functional application to fulfil the requirements of a firm (UE). This piece of software is well-known for its sophisticated skills in the areas of content creation and development. In spite of the fact that it has been implemented in hundreds of different media, gaming, and other projects, it is not a foolproof solution that should be employed in any circumstance. Therefore, if you want to determine whether or not the Unreal Engine AR is the appropriate fit for you, it is essential for you to learn more about its characteristics.
This article provides all the necessary details about the creation of an augmented reality app using the Unreal Engine, as well as helpful information regarding the development of augmented reality services, so that the project can be carried out to its full potential. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Benefits of Using Unreal Engine for AR Development
The development of apps, both commercial and non-commercial, may now take advantage of augmented reality, which is a terrific piece of technology. AR presents businesses in a variety of sectors with the possibility to augment the surroundings of the real world with the appropriate visual data derived from the digital world. In addition, applications such as Unreal make it doable to bring these incredible creations to reality.
But why exactly is the Unreal Engine software so widely used for the production of digital content and the development of mobile applications? Let’s take a look at the top six benefits of UE, which are typically deal-makers for both product owners and developers.
Cost-effectiveness: The fact that UE can be used without paying a fee is considered to be one of its primary advantages. There is no reason to shell out money for the development environment and tools until there is no longer a big profit to be made from this business. When an app reaches $1 million in revenue, a fee of 5% is assessed.
Software that does everything: The Unreal Engine is the equivalent of a Swiss army knife in the realm of software creation. A wide variety of specialized tasks, including 3D modelling, texturing, animation, visual effects (VFX) creation, scripting, and even testing, are carried out here. As a result, using UE saves a significant amount of time.
Content of a very high level: Out-of-the-box content production is possible with Unreal because C++ is the major programming language used by the engine. Therefore, developers have the ability to construct models that are accurate representations of the real world and detailed, which is essential for augmented reality apps.
Prepared materials: In place of the time-consuming process of 3D modeling with raw materials, the UE marketplace provides ready-made assets (characters, costumes, props, and locations) that can be purchased for a fee or obtained for free. These elements are fully modifiable.
Cross-platform development: Developers get access to a full C++ library as well as new Blueprints functions thanks to the unified Unreal Engine AR framework. As a result, specialized developers create a single augmented reality software that, by utilizing a single code path, is capable of being run on several devices.
Particular instruments: The professional Unreal Engine AR tool sets are available for developers to employ if they choose to avoid the hassle of writing sophisticated code from scratch. UE has frameworks like as Apple AR-kit, Google AR-core, and many others as a result of its partnerships with over 15 different platforms.
In addition, Epic Games, a well-known game development studio, created the Unreal Engine in order to facilitate the creation of visually attractive gaming projects. As a result, this piece of software is ideal for the development of video games because it provides a variety of tools for the building of levels, the installation of various forms of monetization, and other tasks.
Making AR App Using Unreal Engine 4 & 5
Before the next edition of this software was launched in April 2022, using Unreal Engine 4 for augmented reality work was one of the most cutting-edge and productive ways to complete projects of this nature. The next generation of this software is scheduled for release in April 2022. So, how does the development of augmented reality look in UE4 and 5? You are about to learn how either of these two iterations of the Unreal Engine may be used to construct any kind of augmented reality.
Unreal Engine 4 AR Development
Developing an augmented reality app in UE4 is a pretty simple and convenient process. To begin, developers should begin by configuring the development environment in accordance with the documentation provided by Unreal. In addition, developers make use of specialist tools such as AR-Pin, which enables them to scan and modify real-world places in order to attach CG content that was created with the Unreal Engine.
Therefore, the next phases in development will vary according to the platform that is selected for the application release. In the event that it is a mobile AR project, the production of high-quality content will require a lot of time and effort spent on striking the ideal balance between quality and file size. On the other hand, 3D modelling for augmented reality glasses is a procedure that is substantially more controllable than it is for mobile devices due to the significantly larger processing power of such devices.
Unreal Engine 5 AR Development
The augmented reality development features that are included in Unreal Engine 5 are extremely comparable to those that were included in UE4. However, one of the things that sets UE 5 apart from previous versions is its brand-new Nanite technology. This is an effective method of rendering triangles that is based on a function known as cluster culling.
When you enter the cluster view mode in UE 5, all of the items on your screen begin to separate into colored clusters. Essentially, this is how it works. According to the distance, size, and resolution of the model, each hue denotes a distinct category of that model.
As a result, capabilities for cluster modification get practically on a per-pixel (per mesh and object) LOD basis (level of detail). In contrast to UE4, which needs each item to be changed separately, this technology enables opaque geometry to be managed in a single draw call. This is in addition to the outstanding rendering and detailed quality that the technology provides.
One more thing that makes the Nanite technology such an outstanding option is its increased capacity for compression. Because of this function, a 1 meter triangle mesh takes up approximately 14 megabytes on the disc, which is less space than a single 4 kilometer normal map. Because the challenge of finding a balance of quality, high LOD, and appropriate size for not-so-powerful mobile devices is soon to be solved, this feature is of utmost importance for the creation of mobile augmented reality applications.
Because of this, the Nanite system is able to intelligently and effectively optimize both the development workflow and the scene quality at the same time. As a result of these new features, the Unreal Engine 5 augmented reality development can now take another step forward in terms of the graphical quality, the size, and the functionality of its implementation.
Unreal Engine vs. Unity for AR Projects
Unity is another well-known gaming engine that can be utilized for the production of immersive apps. Because it has capabilities very similar to those of Unreal Engine, this program is frequently used interchangeably with that game engine. However, when compared with one another for the production of augmented reality (AR), Unity and Unreal have major distinctions that influence whether one is the best choice for particular projects.
To begin, C#, which is often regarded as a simpler and more intuitive programming language, serves as Unity’s primary scripting language. Because of this, the most common application for Unity is the production of mobile apps. Fortunately, smartphone augmented reality applications are becoming increasingly popular across many sectors. For instance, the Google Maps app makes use of augmented reality (AR) in order to scan, analyze, and supplement the user’s immediate environment with indications that point in the right direction. At the same time, the BBC has developed an augmented reality software called Civilization that enables users to investigate objects from a variety of time periods.
The development of an augmented reality software with Unreal Engine, on the other hand, is better suited for platforms with a high level of sophistication, such as AR glasses. For instance, it gives industry professionals access to a development guide for the Microsoft Hololens. This augmented reality Devices was developed specifically for the purpose of providing solutions to business problems, and it is currently being utilized by businesses in the engineering, automotive, and other technical industries. Unreal Engine 4 is capable of delivering high-quality results for augmented reality applications of this nature.
Start Your Unreal Engine AR Project Easily with ITS
The construction of an augmented reality application using the Unreal Engine is one of the high-stakes projects that necessitates the highest level of competence and the most advanced talents. Why therefore would you choose to let your time and peace of mind go to waste by managing it yourself? You can choose to outsource the work instead, which is a more effective way to save resources while also achieving results that are superior to those anticipated.
ITS is a firm that specializes in the development of bespoke software and can provide support for your project at any level. We are capable of full-cycle AR app development thanks to our abundance of experienced specialists and our expertise in cutting-edge technology. This ability enables us to do everything from developing an effective plan to doing maintenance after the app has been launched. In addition, our organization is prepared to provide the most talented developers to your team in order to complete it.
»How to Use Unreal Engine for AR Development«