Every year, the State of Unreal manages to surprise but perhaps not since the reveal of Unreal Engine 5 back in 2020 has it mattered this much – in 2025 Epic Games didn’t just deliver, it reshaped the landscape. I'm lucky enough to be sat in the crowd and see it happen at this year's Unreal Fest.
As I sit watching the keynote stream, notepad in hand, it quickly became clear this wasn’t just about new tech. It was about changing how games and digital experiences are and will be made, who gets to make them, and what’s even possible in real-time 3D.
