We’ve seen how Unreal Engine games dominated the trailers at the Game Awards 2024. That should be enough to tempt anyone new to the engine to sign up for the next Unreal Fellowship, Epic Games’ annual bootcamp.
Unreal Fellowship: Games 2025 Programme
Epic Games has announced that the Unreal Fellowship: Games 2025 programme will run from 24 March to 11 April for North American time zones and from 6 May to 23 May for UK and European time zones. The deadline to apply in both cases is 21 January.
Theme and Eligibility
The theme for this edition of the course is arcade games, encouraging participants to experiment with a range of visual styles and gameplay. To be eligible, applicants must have a minimum of three years’ experience in creating games and have worked on at least one published game. They will need to provide a portfolio of work.
What is the Unreal Fellowship?
Epic Games’ Unreal Fellowship is a bootcamp-style virtual training programme intended for people who work in the games industry but are new to Unreal Engine. The programme is designed for game designers and art directors, lead programmers, technical artists, gameplay developers, environment artists, level designers, character artists, texture artists, animators, modelers, and UI designers.
Mentors guide participants through the process of producing a functioning game with Unreal Engine, from concept art through final delivery. Guest speakers also provide insights into how Unreal Engine is being used in AAA game development.
Course Topics
Topics covered in the course include:
- Programming using the Blueprint visual scripting system and its integration mechanisms
- Creating custom shaders that react to gameplay
- Developing a distinctive art style that unifies the project’s visual aspects
- Producing advanced Niagara visual effects that interact dynamically with gameplay
- Filling environments using procedural content generation (PCG) tools
- Using lighting techniques to achieve specific atmospheric conditions
- Optimizing and packaging games for final production
Conclusion
The Unreal Fellowship: Games 2025 programme is an excellent opportunity for game developers to learn the latest techniques and best practices in Unreal Engine. With its focus on arcade games, participants will have the chance to experiment with a range of visual styles and gameplay mechanics. Don’t miss the deadline to apply on 21 January.
FAQs
Q: What is the Unreal Fellowship?
A: The Unreal Fellowship is a bootcamp-style virtual training programme designed for game developers who are new to Unreal Engine.
Q: What is the theme of the Unreal Fellowship: Games 2025 programme?
A: The theme is arcade games, encouraging participants to experiment with a range of visual styles and gameplay mechanics.
Q: What are the eligibility criteria for the Unreal Fellowship: Games 2025 programme?
A: Applicants must have a minimum of three years’ experience in creating games and have worked on at least one published game. They will need to provide a portfolio of work.
Q: What topics are covered in the Unreal Fellowship: Games 2025 programme?
A: The programme covers a range of topics, including programming, art style, visual effects, environment design, lighting, and game optimization.
Q: How do I apply for the Unreal Fellowship: Games 2025 programme?
A: Applications can be submitted through the Unreal Engine blog. The deadline is 21 January.
