Unreal Engine 5.7 Aims to Resolve Performance Issues Plaguing Recent Games
Epic Games has released a preview of Unreal Engine 5.7, focusing on considerable optimization improvements-particularly within procedural content generation tools-in response to widespread criticism of performance in games built with the engine. The update promises nearly double the speed of PCG compared to Unreal engine 5.5, addressing concerns that have impacted titles like Borderlands 4.
Recent releases utilizing Unreal Engine 5 have faced scrutiny for poor optimization, with some performing comparably to, or even worse then, games developed on older engines. This has led to player frustration and questions about the engine’s viability for widespread adoption, especially on less powerful hardware. The 5.7 update seeks to alleviate these issues by enhancing GPU and CPU utilization, alongside introducing new features designed to improve visual fidelity without sacrificing performance.
Key additions in Unreal Engine 5.7 include Nanite Foliage, extending the Nanite geometry system to vegetation, and MegaLights, an improved lighting system. The update is currently available in a preview phase for developers via the Unreal Engine forums.
Epic’s move comes after significant backlash regarding the performance of Borderlands 4, which has been described as performing similarly to Cyberpunk 2077 with path tracing enabled, according to reporting from PPE.pl.The 5.7 preview is intended to address these types of issues and possibly restore confidence in Unreal Engine 5 as a viable platform for game progress.
