The Matrix Awakens: Creating a World - Tech Talk - State of Unreal 2022

This tech talk examines how Epic’s Special Projects team created The Matrix Awakens environment in Unreal Engine 5. It covers modular procedural building workflows, open-world streaming systems, materials and texturing, and Lumen lighting and reflections.

Syllabus

Intro
Goals
Ideas
Texture Assets
Building Reference
Modeling Buildings
Creating the Modules
Buildings and Stats
Kit Levels
Module Description
Corner Modules
Split Corners
Corner Caps
Building Walls / Facades
Building Levels
Building Props Library
Module Metadata
Build Definition Files
Asset Pipeline
Procedural Building
Creating Biomes
Creating the City
What is Open World?
Open World Features
Open World Stats
Streaming Recipe - World Setup & HLOD Main grid area around player
Setting up the Building Collision
Ray Tracing Groups
Spawning the City
Breaking down the look
Base Substance Library of tiling textures
Manufacturing
Material Instance Hierarchy
Building Skirts
Windows Interiors Interior Mapping: A technique
Typical interior mapped rooms! (1x1 cubemap)
Window Interiors
Roads
Rooftops
Lumen