Epic Games yesterday announced the launch of the new version of the Unreal Engine 4 graphics engine, Unreal Engine 4.25 that, among several novelties, becomes the first version thate adds initial support for next-gen consoles which will go on sale later this year: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
"For developers, this is the first release with initial support for Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series X as first-class platforms, and throughout the year we will update the 4.25-Plus brand with optimizations, solutions, and certification requirements to support developers on next-gen console releases
Specific features that Unreal Engine 4.25 adds in its new version compatible with Sony and Microsoft consoles include specific functionalities of these platforms as new advances in sound, initial support for online subsystems and initial support for the TRC and XR certification requirements.
Also, already talking about the improvements of Unreal Engine 4.25 for all systems, Epic comments that they continue to work on Niagara VFX and in the physics of its Chaos engine which in this new version adds improvements in the destruction of objects and many other functionalities. New options are also added at the level of the textures of the different materials and improvements in Unreal Audio Engine.
Unreal Engine 4.25 is next-gen ready and available for download now! # UE4 https://t.co/H65RRacSS2– Unreal Engine (@UnrealEngine) May 5, 2020
Ray tracing is also present
Finally Epic also confirms that Unreal Engine 4.25 also includes support for ray tracing or real-time ray tracing that looks like it's going to be one of the next generation console workhorses.
"Finally with this version the real time ray tracing is officially ready for production. From games or movies and broadcasts to automotive and architectural visualization, ray tracing allows you to reach new levels of reality in your projects in real time.
