Epic Games has updated Unreal Engine to version 5.2 which includes support for Apple Silicon Macs, performance improvements, and more.
Unreal Engine is a 3D computer graphics tool for macOS, Windows, and Linux to create photoreal visuals and immersive experiences for video games. Unreal Engine 5 was launched in 2020 with support for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, along with other systems. This underlying tech has been used in popular games like PUBG: Battlegrounds, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Valorant and Yoshi’s Crafted World, Gears of War, Fortnite, and others.
After the public feud between Epic and Apple began over App Store’s 30% commission for in-app purchases in 2020, the Cupertino tech giant banned Epic’s famous battle royale game, Fortnite from iOS and Unreal Engine on macOS. But a district court ordered Apple to unblock graphics tool on macOS.
Unreal Engine 5.2 will run natively on Apple Silicon Macs, not through Rosetta 2
When Apple launched the first generation M1 series Macs, the company introduced Rosetta 2 for incompatible apps to run on Apple Silicon Macs. Although apps run pretty smoothly on Rosetta 2, the performance does not compare experience delivered by native support.
Now, Unreal Engine 5.2 runs natively on Mac powered by M1 and M2 series chips to deliver “innovative new functionality”. Here is everything new on the tool:
- Procedural Content Generation (PCG) Framework includes in-editor tools and a runtime component and is integrated into the app to eliminate the need to rely on external packages.
- Substrate a new way of authoring materials to give more control over the appearance and feel of objects in real-time apps like games, and for linear content creation.
- Support for Apple Silicon on macOS to deliver an enhanced user experience, improved performance, and greater stability.
- New ML Deformer sample to create a high-fidelity real-time character for PC and consoles with deformations driven by full muscle, flesh, and cloth simulation.
- Improved virtual production toolset.
Existing users can download the new Unreal Engine 5.2 from the Epic Games launcher and new users can download it from unrealengine.com.
