Real-time technology in automotive
The automotive industry similarly saw a significant uptick in the use of real-time technology, with the top three automakers in every region now committed to the use of Unreal Engine. In North America, GM, Ford, and Tesla have adopted the engine; BMW, Volkswagen Group, and Ferrari are using it in Europe; and Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai are notable brands leveraging the technology in APAC.Last year brought an updated version of our Automotive Field Guide, which included new information around one of the fastest-growing uses of game engine technology in the development of next-generation vehicles—the human-machine interface (HMI).
The number of vehicles using Unreal Engine-powered HMI increased by 250% last year, while flagship cars—including the Rivian R1S, the Lotus Eletre, and the brand new Ford Mustang—launched with HMI and marketing content built using Unreal Engine.
That trend looks set to continue in 2023, with the news that Sony and Honda’s new electric vehicles, to be sold under the brand name Afeela, are to come equipped with a best-in-class HMI entertainment system built on Unreal Engine.
We also witnessed examples of automakers selling in creative new ways in 2022, with Fiat using technology supplied by Touchcast and Microsoft to take orders for vehicles in their own branded metaverse environment. Fiat follows in the footsteps of early automotive metaverse pioneers BMW, who released their Joytopia experience back in 2021. At CES 2022, the German car giant reopened Joytopia to showcase a new “multi-sensory experience that redefines the notion of a concept vehicle,” titled Dimensions of Real.
Interactive 3D in broadcast, live events, and fashion
Real-time technology continues to enhance audience experiences for broadcast and live events, powering the augmented reality visuals, motion graphics, video walls, inserts, and virtual sets that enable producers to blend CG and live action.
In 2022, we saw a host of live events and broadcasts leveraging game engine technology to deliver unique experiences, from interactive VR concerts to fully virtual production-powered studios and graphical overlays that wowed sports fans.
CBS News coverage of the US Midterm Elections harnessed the power of Unreal Engine to create a variety of effects, and more and more fixed installations were using real-time technology to create interactive experiences, including mindblowing new projects like the world’s first hyperreal wingsuit simulator.
Meanwhile, the exploration of digital identity and self expression through fashion design, curation, and virtual social experiences continued apace in 2022.
A case in point was the launch of Human Park, which leverages both Unreal Engine and the MetaHuman framework. Human Park is a next-generation Web3 experience—a decentralized gaming platform where users can customize avatars with fully interoperable NFT wearables and season-specific icons.
Similarly, real-time avatar creation environment and marketplace HUMXN give users access to the HUMXN metaverse: an Unreal Engine-powered creation environment where users can dress, pose, customize, and snap photos of MetaHuman-based avatars.
Source: Unreal Engine Blog