Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 – About the Game Engine Versions
If you are a young game developer, you probably have heard of Unreal Engine. Here, at the YaninaGames website, we often mention this great and flexible game development technology. One of the most popular game engines in the market, created by Epic Games to power some of the best games since its very first release, indie developers and huge studios use it alike for creating stunning visuals and immersive gameplay. We decided to research which engine is better – Unreal Engine 4 or 5? Both are strong tools with somewhat different strong points depending on what it is you’re trying to build.
In our guide about the best game engines for beginners, we’ve already covered the features of Unreal Engine technology. What really gets UE5 over the top is how it handles the creation of huge open worlds. It introduces features such as World Partition – a system that automatizes the leveling of streaming and makes the management of huge game worlds a lot easier.
Developers can now create large, detailed environments with complete assurance that performance will not suffer for it. Also, with the addition of MetaHuman Creator, creating life-like characters has never been easier. But it is more complicated than just choosing Unreal Engine 5 vs Unreal Engine 4 for your gaming project.
Unreal Engine 4 – Major Features & Tools
The minute Unreal Engine 4 hit the market in 2014, it found its way onto many developers’ top lists of favorite game engines almost immediately. Ease of use and versatility granted this game engine a first choice for many projects. With tools such as Blueprint Visual Scripting and a really robust material editor, it helped developers to make complex games without being a professional coder. No matter if you’re working on a mobile game or a massive AAA title, UE4 has your back.
These are the main features of Unreal Engine 4:
- Blueprint Visual Scripting. This feature allows for the easy creation of game logic without necessarily coding;
- Material Editor. This powerful feature set allows for the creation and edition of textures and shaders;
- Animation System. Advanced technology support for character animation, including motion capture and inverse kinematics;
- Robust Community Resources. It has a very big ecosystem with extensive plugins, assets, and documentation;
- Deferred Rendering. Impressive graphical detail combined with lighting flexibility;
- VR Support. Engage your users with immersive VR experiences, enabled through the tools of this engine;
- Sequencer Tool. Helps to achieve cinematic cutscenes with ease;
Unreal Engine 5 – Major Features & Tools
Fast forward to May 2021, and we get Unreal Engine 5 – a.k.a. the game-changer. It is fully packed with advanced technologies such as Nanite and Lumen, which introduce movie-like detail and lighting into the games. Unreal Engine 5 promises more realism and smoother workflows. It means developers of games can get more graphics options without giving away performance.
These are the main features of Unreal Engine 5:
- Nanite. Virtualized geometry for real-time rendering of billions of polygons;
- Lumen. Dynamic global illumination system with live changes in lighting;
- World Partition. Streaming levels automatically for huge open worlds;
- MetaHuman Creator. Quickly create realistic human characters;
- Temporal Super Resolution. Upscale resolution while maintaining high performance;
- Improved UI. Intuitive editor with many new features to enhance your asset management;
- Chaos Physics. Advanced physics and destruction system for more dynamic environments;
While both engines provide enormous tools for game development, the extended toolset in Unreal Engine 5 gives developers more liberty and creative power, especially on projects focused on high-class visuals and large, immersive worlds. The main differences between both engines we will discuss later.
Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 System Requirements
The thing is that good hardware is needed to push both Unreal Engine 4 and Unreal Engine 5 to the fullest. Surely, Unreal Engine 4 is a bit more forgiving in terms of hardware. You can run it on mid-range setups, but for larger projects, more powerful systems are recommended.
Minimum system requirements for Unreal Engine 4:
- Operating System – Windows 7 64-bit or later, Mac OS X 10.9.2 or later;
- CPU – Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU, 2.5 GHz or faster;
- RAM – 8 GB;
- GPU – DirectX 11 or Metal compatible;
- Storage – 50 GB free;
UE5 requires a bit more since it is targeted for high-fidelity visuals. Nanite and Lumen are high-performance technologies since they require high-end GPUs.
Minimum system requirements for Unreal Engine 5:
- Operating System – Windows 10 64-bit or macOS Big Sur;
- CPU – 12-core Intel or AMD Ryzen 7;
- RAM – 32 GB;
- GPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 / AMD Radeon 6000 series or higher (for Nanite and Lumen);
- Storage – NVMe SSD with 100 GB free space;
Though, both engines can run from mid-tier systems, advanced features in Unreal Engine 5 surely enjoyed the headroom afforded by high-end hardware, especially for large-scale or graphically intensive projects.
Comparing Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 Graphics
Graphics are already looking good when you use Unreal Engine 4. It already features Physically-Based Rendering, which means the realistic ways in which light and materials interact. Deferred shading and dynamic shadows are in great detail here. UE4 also includes a few features of ray tracing. UE4 has a lot to do with making it work right, though it needs high-end hardware for this to be possible. Though amazing visuals are possible in UE4, most of it requires manual work, especially in terms of optimizing LOD and managing lightmaps.
Unreal Engine 5 uses completely different technologies called Nanite and Lumen. Nanite is a virtualized geometry system that lets developers import any assets with billions of polygons into the engine, automatically managing their LODs without a performance drop. This means highly detailed environments can now be rendered in real-time without the need for tedious optimization.
On the lighting side, Lumen brings fully dynamic global illumination and reflections. Where UE4 had to lean on static lighting and baking light maps, Lumen changes dynamically in response to a shifting environment. This gives games a far more organic feel with much less setup necessary. The lighting with Lumen reacts immediately to changes in light sources. For example, a character moving from sunlight into a dark cave can result in seamless naturally-looking light transitions.
While both produce beautiful graphics, Unreal Engine 5 simply does a lot more for more minute detail and realism with less manual work. If developers want to achieve realistic graphics or open-world maps, UE5’s set of tools makes it easier to produce breathtaking results.
You can check the following YouTube video where the graphics of Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 are compared on the same gaming project in development.
Comparing Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 Performance
At this point both Unreal Engine 4 and Unreal Engine 5 are pretty good options. However, with Unreal Engine 5, the boundaries of game performance will really be pushed with new technologies that greatly improve efficiency and optimize workflows.
Performance management in Unreal Engine 4 is also achieved by more traditional optimization techniques, manually adjusting such things as the Level of Detail (LOD) for assets, texture streaming, and baked lighting. Although UE4 is an extremely powerful engine, a few disadvantages exist in that extra time may be needed to fine-tune large and detailed environments. While running well on mid-range systems, large-scale games struggle to do so without much optimization work.
On the whole, Unreal Engine 5 demonstrates better performance management, especially when dealing with large projects and visually demanding games.
Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 – Key Differences
Some of the huge changes in Unreal Engine 5 include Nanite and Lumen for enhanced graphical fidelity and workflow efficiency. Nanite allows assets to feature billions of polygons and render them in real time, automatically adjusting for Level of Detail, among other things, while Lumen allows fully dynamic global illumination that changes in response to a dynamic environment in real-time. And it does not require cumbersome baked lighting. In Unreal Engine 4, the developers would need to make LODs manually or resort to some kind of static lighting solution.
Also, UE5 has a more refined user experience. The engine boasts a newly redesigned, more intuitive user interface and better asset management to navigate with ease through complex projects. On the count of interface alone, Unreal Engine 4 is very strong, though it may at times feel very outdated as compared to the sleek new design in UE5.
The TSR tech in UE5 is doing a great job of keeping frame rates silky smooth while driving up visual quality. And the new World Partition tool makes building and managing great big open-world games far easier. UE4 still performs okay, but more manual optimization is required, especially on larger projects.
Features like MetaHuman Creator in UE5 provide a way for developers to churn out hyper-realistic characters faster, with the character creation tools of UE4, it had to be more time and customization-heavy. The new enhancements to UE5 will make it the better choice between the two for next-generation projects that need to reach photorealism and large expansive worlds.
You can also check the table that compares the major aspects of Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 versions.
| Aspect | Unreal Engine 4 | Unreal Engine 5 |
| User Interface | Functional but feels dated | Sleeker, more intuitive, enhanced usability |
| Dynamic Lighting | Static lightmaps, and manual baking required | Lumen – Fully dynamic global illumination |
| Nanite Technology | Not available | Real-time virtualized geometry, auto-LOD |
| Tools | Powerful but traditional tools | Advanced tools like Nanite, Lumen, MetaHuman |
| Performance | Requires manual optimization for large scenes | Improved performance with Nanite and TSR |
| Optimization | Manual LOD management, texture-streaming | Nanite automates optimization processes |
| Enhanced API | Basic API support | Improved API with better accessibility |
| World Building | Manual level streaming | World Partition automates open-world management |
| Character Creation | Requires more manual input | MetaHuman Creator for fast, realistic characters |
| Animation | Traditional animation tools | Control Rig for precise animation control |
Unreal Engine 5 vs Unreal Engine 4 – Top Games for Each Engine
The Great Examples of Games Using Unreal Engine 5
- Black Myth: Wukong (2024). This ambitious action RPG is one of the best visual showcases for Unreal Engine 5. With its heavy fighting and beautiful environments, Black Myth: Wukong utilizes Nanite and Lumen to achieve ultra-realistic lighting and detailed character models to bring this mythical world into being;
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (2024). This game is a sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and it was developed with Unreal Engine 5, showing hyper-realistic graphics with immersive storytelling. Moving on to Hellblade II, which benefits from powerful UE5 tools, one can set up life-like facial animations and extremely detailed environments;
- Fortnite (UE5 Update of 2022). Fortnite, Epic Games’ flagship title, also jumped to Unreal Engine 5 to show off the new muscles of the engine. Nanite and Lumen made it run smoother and look even better while keeping up the frantic multiplayer action;
The Great Examples of Games Using Unreal Engine 4:
- Fortnite (Original, 2017). Fortnite is one of the most popularly known games ever made and was originally built in Unreal Engine 4. Colorful graphics, smooth performance, and large-scale multiplayer battles are tests enough to the versatility and optimization that UE4 has for massive online games;
- Gears 5 (2019). A visually stunning third-person shooter, Gears 5 leverages Unreal Engine 4’s powerful rendering and dynamic lighting for detailed environments and high-intensity action sequences. It also demonstrates UE4’s robust multiplayer and cinematic tools;
- Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020). This critically acclaimed RPG remake features new-looking character models and immersive environments, all thanks to Unreal Engine 4. It is exemplary of how well UE4 can create a great, cinematic experience with smooth transitions from cutscenes to real-time action;
For example, the transition of Fortnite to Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 gave the game a refreshing look with smoother performance and richer graphics full of even more details than before. That is why Fortnite has kept its position in the top games for many years running.
What Choose for Your Gaming Project in 2024 – Unreal Engine 4 vs 5?
Smaller, Less Graphically Demanding Games
If you are making a pretty small game or one that has stylized graphics, Unreal Engine 4 may also be an excellent option. This engine version is lighter on hardware requirements and has a mature ecosystem full of tutorials and community support.
Large-scale or Open-World Projects
Nanite for real-time rendering of assets and World Partition for automatic level streaming are features that make Unreal Engine 5 an obvious choice for major open-world games. It’s perfect for extensive worlds with great details.
Realistic Visuals and Advanced Lighting
If your game needs top-tier graphics and real-time dynamic lighting, then UE5 is a good option. Lumen brings real-time global illumination, while Nanite takes care of ultra-detailed assets without any performance drops.
For Fast Prototyping or Simple Mechanics
UE4’s Blueprint Visual Scripting provides easier rapid prototyping of games with less advanced coding headaches. That is great for small indie projects or for fast gameplay testing.
For Next-Gen or Long-Term Projects
If your project wants to target next-generation consoles and you want to future-proof your game, then Unreal Engine 5 is the way to go. It’s built for the future of game development.
Did you like our Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 comparison? What would you pick for the project development? Join the discussion about the Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 on Reddit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most significant difference when comparing Unreal Engine 4 vs 5?
By far, some of the largest differences between Unreal Engine 4 and Unreal Engine 5 are dynamic light technologies – Nanite and Lumen. Nanite provides the ability to render billions of polygons in real time to create highly detailed environments without having to manually build and set up LODs. Lumen is a fully dynamic global illumination solution that instantly adapts to scene and lighting changes in real time. This pushes visual fidelity and frees up developer resources from spending so much time on manually optimizing and setting up lighting.
Can I quickly transfer my Unreal Engine 4 project into Unreal Engine 5?
You can. It won’t be that hard to port an Unreal Engine 4 project into Unreal Engine 5. Epic Games has designed UE5 to be compatible with UE4 projects, so you won’t lose your progress or assets in the process. More advanced features of UE5, though, like Nanite and Lumen, may require some reworking to take full advantage of the benefits they offer. Testing is necessary to make sure all works as it should after migration.
Unreal Engine 4 vs 5 – what is more difficult to learn?
Unreal Engine 5 is no more difficult to learn than Unreal Engine 4. Actually, UE5 introduces a more streamlined and intuitive user interface that should make it easier for new developers to get their heads around. Such tools as Nanite and Lumen simplify some aspects of game development work, reducing manual work connected with LOD management and lightmap baking. If you work in UE4, shifting to UE5 should feel relatively seamless with some learning adjustments.
Conclusion
When comparing Unreal Engine 4 vs 5, both these engines offer powerful game development tools, depending on what you need in your project. For teams looking for professional assistance, there are custom game development services which could help bring your ideas to life.
On one hand, Unreal Engine 4 could be a great way to go in case you have some kind of smaller-sized game or in case you have a smaller team because it is rather well-documented, reliable, and may suit your budget needs considerably well.
On the other hand, with state-of-the-art technologies like Nanite and Lumen, Unreal Engine 5 will be perfect for those who would like to push visual boundaries or work on creating large-scale, next-gen games.
The YaninaGames team can equally work with both engine versions. If you want to order our services or get a free consultation, feel free to contact us. Keep reading our blog to get more detailed guides for game developers and gamers.
