Budgeting in a Post-Polycount World - Unreal Engine 5.2 Workflows and Best Practices

Explore the evolving landscape of game development budgeting in Unreal Engine 5.2 through this insightful Unreal Fest 2024 talk. Gain valuable insights from Steve Walker, Director of Engineering at Firesprite, as he shares lessons learned during pre-production for their upcoming title. Discover how budgeting strategies have adapted to accommodate the latest hardware advancements and Unreal's cutting-edge technologies. Delve into detailed discussions on memory consumption, Nanite, Virtual Shadow Maps, and lighting techniques, with a focus on optimizing performance while achieving stunning visual fidelity. Learn about CPU budgeting, frame rate considerations, upscaling techniques, and the strengths and weaknesses of various Unreal technologies. Whether you're a seasoned developer or new to Unreal Engine, this talk offers essential knowledge for navigating the post-polycount world of game development.

Intro
Budgeting History
Whats Changed
CPU
Budgeting
BU Features
Frame Rate
Upscaling
Unreal Tech
Lighting
Performance
Tech Strengths
Tech Weaknesses
Conclusion