From the 10/16/2014 Press Release
Epic Games has shipped Unreal Engine 4.5, the engine’s largest update since launch, which brings significant improvements to console and mobile development, better usability, and features such as animation retargeting, automatic C++ hot reload, ray-traced distance field soft shadows, screen space subsurface scattering, light map UV generation and streaming video textures.
In 4.5, the highly anticipated Unreal Motion Graphics UI editor graduates from preview state and is ready for prime time. Also introduced is a brand new tutorial system, an advanced vehicle sample game, a twin stick shooter game template, and more than 40 features and improvements contributed by the UE4 developer community.
Read more: https://www.unrealengine.com/blog/unreal-engine-45-released
FMOD PLUGIN AVAILABLE NOW
Firelight Technologies has released its adaptive audio workstation and engine, FMOD Studio, as native UE4 plugin. FMOD is fully integrated with UE4 Blueprint visual scripting so anyone can hook up sound and music within their game, no coding required.
HOT TOPICS @ TWITCH
On today’s livestream, Epic’s Senior Graphics Architect Martin Mittring and Senior Graphics Programmer Daniel Wright will join Chance Ivey to show off two new rendering features in 4.5: screen space subsurface scattering and ray-traced distance field shadows.
As mentioned in the 4.5 release notes, ray-traced soft shadows greatly enhance lighting visuals and the overall lighting workflow, and the new subsurface profile shading model enables more realistic skin shading and other cool effects.
Tune in at 11am PT / 2pm ET: www.twitch.tv/unrealengine
On Tuesday, October 21, Epic will offer an in-depth livestream on the UMG UI editing toolset. Live demos, support discussions and Q&A will kick off at 11am PT / 2pm ET.
MARKETPLACE GETS SPOOKY
Available now on the Marketplace: Cloudy Dungeon environment, three spine-tingling new audio packs, and a spooky suite of Halloween-themed set pieces, props and decals.
Epic even has plans for a Halloween-themed game jam for the UE4 dev community. Follow @iveytron on Twitter for details.
KICKSTARTER BUZZ
Boston’s indie dev scene is heating up with UE4. The Black Glove and The Flame in the Flood are each built by small teams of ex-Irrational developers.
Both Kickstarter campaigns launched within 24 hours of each other, and each shows distinct promise. In fact, The Flame in the Flood surpassed its Kickstarter goal with 23 days to go and is now hitting stretch goals!
SPOTTED AT NYCC
Last week, Bandai Namco Amusement unveiled the new Star Wars Battle Pod at New York Comic Con. The visuals in this true-to-film flight combat experience coming to arcades in 2015 are powered by Unreal Engine technology.
EVENTS & DEV TOUR
Epic’s going down under! Unreal Engine is proudly sponsoring GCAP once again, and then attending PAX Australia.
Next, the team hits Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) prior to kicking off the East Coast Dev Tour which begins in Montreal on November 12 and ends in Boston on November 14.