Making Digital Twins Playable - From UEFN to Unreal Engine

Explore how to transform static digital twin city models into interactive, playable experiences using Unreal Engine for Fortnite (UEFN) in this 36-minute conference talk from Unreal Fest Stockholm. Discover Tomlin Studio's innovative approach to bringing a digital twin of Norrköping city into Fortnite as an educational sandbox template that others can learn from and build upon. Learn about the technical foundation using Cesium and Google 3D Tiles, and examine the studio's exploration of immersive city simulations incorporating real-world data through Niagara effects and high-fidelity points of interest created with 3D Gaussian splatting and photogrammetry techniques. Gain insights into the practical experiences of working with different digital twin approaches, including detailed comparisons of 3D Gaussian splatting versus photogrammetry methods, along with the technical limitations encountered when working within UEFN. Follow the complete technical setup process, understand key lessons learned during development, and explore future possibilities for making digital twins interactive and playable, effectively bridging the worlds of gaming, urban technology, and immersive educational experiences.