Unreal Engine 6 is aiming to change more than just how games look.
Epic Games has revealed its roadmap for Unreal Engine 6, confirming that the next major version of its game engine is targeting an early access release in late 2027. A full release is expected 12 to 18 months later, placing its launch window between late 2028 and mid-2029.
The update comes from Epic Games Executive Vice President of Development Marcus Wassmer, who shared new details about the engine in a blog post, following its brief appearance during a recent Rocket League esports event.
Beyond the release window, Epic has outlined how Unreal Engine 6 will differ from its predecessor, with the company focusing on development tools and workflows, rather than another major leap in graphics technology.
What is Unreal Engine 6, and how is it different from Unreal Engine 5?
Unreal Engine 6 is the next major iteration of Epic Games' development technology, which powers games across PC, console and mobile platforms.
Unlike Unreal Engine 5, which introduced graphical features such as Nanite and Lumen, Unreal Engine 6 is centred on how games are created behind the scenes. Epic plans to combine Unreal Engine 5 and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) into a single platform, bringing together traditional game development and Fortnite's creator ecosystem. The new engine will also act as a reset point for several long-standing development systems.
Rather than simply expanding on existing tools, Epic is introducing new workflows and technologies intended to modernise how projects are built and maintained.
When will Unreal Engine 6 be released?
Epic's current roadmap places Unreal Engine 6's launch in early access during the fourth quarter of 2027. According to Wassmer, the engine's full public release is expected between 12 and 18 months after the early access launch, placing the current target somewhere between late 2028 and mid-2029.
What changes are coming in Unreal Engine 6?
One of the biggest changes in Unreal Engine 6 involves the systems that have formed the foundation of Unreal development since the Unreal Engine 4 era. Epic plans to gradually phase out the Actor and Blueprint systems in favour of Scene Graph entities and an Entity Component System (ECS). According to the company, the move is intended to improve performance, while addressing limitations associated with older workflows.
Verse, the scripting language currently used within UEFN, is also set to become Unreal Engine 6's primary scripting language. The transition is expected to happen gradually, with Epic planning to provide conversion tools and AI-assisted features to help developers move projects across to the new architecture. However, once Unreal Engine 6 reaches full release, the older systems will no longer be supported.
Why is Unreal Engine 6 a bigger change than previous Unreal upgrades?
According to Wassmer, the jump from Unreal Engine 5 to Unreal Engine 6 will likely be more substantial than the transition from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5.
Several core technologies, including gameplay frameworks, material pipelines, and coordinate systems, are being reworked as part of the overhaul. As a result, developers may face a more complex migration process when bringing existing projects to the new engine.
Epic believes the changes will provide a more modern foundation for game development and make it easier for projects to run across multiple platforms, though the transition is expected to require more preparation than previous Unreal Engine upgrades.
More details are expected to emerge from Unreal Fest Chicago, where Epic is continuing to discuss the future of its development technology with developers.
