Making the switch

When working on The Cosmic Vale, I decided to switch from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 to stay up to date with the latest advancements in unreal engine technology. This transition allowed me to take advantage of the new tools and features that came with UE5, significantly enhancing the visual and immersive quality of the project.

Lighting with lumen

One of the key features I experimented with in UE5 was Lumen, a global illumination and reflections system. By overhauling the environment lighting and post-processing, I was able to create a more dynamic atmosphere within The Cosmic Vale. This included fine-tuning the way light interacted with various surfaces and adjusting the overall mood of the environment to align with the game's thematic elements.

Expanding the world

In addition to lighting, I implemented fog and background landscaping to further enhance the level's immersive aesthetic. The fog added depth and mystery to the environment, while the background landscapes created a sense of scale and grandeur. My goal was to make the player feel like they were in a world that extended far beyond the boundaries of the explorable zone, making The Cosmic Vale feel massive and teeming with possibilities.

Through these enhancements, I aimed to craft an environment that not only served as a backdrop for gameplay but also felt alive and expansive, drawing players into a world that seemed to stretch beyond the horizon.