Yesterday, Epic Games announced that the Unreal Engine 5 Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) would launch next week on March 22. The new editor will allow creators to better incorporate Fortnite’s existing creative tools in making new game modes and experiences.
The editor’s beta version will be available on the Epic Games Store. Additionally, the UEFN will have additional Unreal Engine 5 features while working alongside the current Fortnite Creative toolset.
Game developers and fans have clamored for new editing tools since Epic Games first released Unreal Engine 5 last year. While its original release date was scheduled back in 2022, it was delayed for unknown reasons.
The announcement last May suggested that the new editor would enable monetization features for custom content, transforming the function into a digital marketplace like Google Play Store or Steam. The editor’s current Epic Game Store page, however, focuses mainly on technical adjustments and advantages of the platform without elaborating further on last year’s monetization promises.
The beginning of the future is built together.
3.22.2023 I Wishlist on EGS now.https://t.co/UgXn1xJSra pic.twitter.com/5oZvhEAYJb
— Fortnite Creators (@FNCreate) March 16, 2023
The Epic Game Store page sheds more light on the technical capabilities of the editor. Most notably, UEFN now works under a new programming language called Verse, specifically designed to facilitate Web3 technology with a unique static-type system that allows a more flexible code than other coding languages.
The language’s development comes from Epic Game CEO Tim Sweeney’s passion for metaverse and Web3 development. A recent Epic Games presentation noted the company’s goals in creating a shared virtual reality experience for players worldwide, with a customizable platform available to all developers and designers.
Besides the new Verse language, UEFN uses Control Rig and Sequencer in character animations, Niagara for visual effects, Fab to import new assets and World Partition in adjusting maps and gameplay areas.
Upgrading Fortnite’s modding experience
Fortnite has had an active modding and creative community since its inception. The hit battle-royale game released a Creative Mode in 2018, allowing users to piece together pre-made objects or character models into new maps and game modes. However, due to asset limitations, it was difficult for creators to experiment or elaborate on new game ideas.
Despite this, Fortnite enthusiasts have always been able to create a wide variety of games out of their limited resources. For example, one Fortnite Creative mod, Alverton Hills: Asylum, transformed the gun-touting, cheery Fortnite setting into a narrative-driven horror story. Another mod, Prison Breakout, created a jail setting for players to incite GTA-style chaos and mayhem.
With the upcoming release of UEFN, the Fortnite modding community will find new sets of tools to play around with. Players can finally install their custom assets into the game alongside audio and animations.
Players will also be able to work together to create new game experiences. For example, Control Rig and Sequencer’s Live Edit tools allow multiple players to edit animation projects, allowing for more seamless collaborations in the development process. All these tools will also be available across the UEFN and Fortnite Creative platforms.
“Teams of creators can work together across PC and console to develop and test islands in real-time,” the UEFN game store page says.
Due to the sheer amount of functions available, the editing tool has specific processing requirements. The minimum requirements on a PC include a Windows 10 OS, Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz CPU and at least 8 GB of RAM. Epic quality presets also recommend an Nvidia GTX 1080 or equivalent GPU for graphic fidelity.
