The Future of Cinema: Epic Games Gave Us an In-Depth Tour of The Volume (Their Virtual Set Tech)

Epic Games invited IGN's Ben and Jeffrey to take a tour of their cutting-edge virtual set they call The Volume, the same technology used to film The Mandalorian. Check it out as we get a thorough tour of this incredible tech from Epic Games ICVFX Stage Operator Mike Sill.
#EpicGames #VirtualSetTech

[@hamidvisuals]

That torch light tracking is fascinating. Really want to get into virtual production.

[@HarbindBrar]

Yeah that was amazing.

[@sauravshukla7391]

Correct, it is the future mate

[@datdamadude]

Love how gaming tech is bleeding over to film and television

[@polinttalu7102]

as it should be, videogames seem to have pushed the technology faster and farther than those 2.

[@jackbenimblejack1]

When video games make more money than all other forms of media combined

[@gerardoguaran6356]

It's not a gaming tech, it's just tech.

[@JackieWelles]

@@gerardoguaran6356 Whats pushing this tech? Even more and more demanding games and ideas! So its Gaming Tech.

[@gerardoguaran6356]

@@JackieWelles to assume that videogames necessarily require technological advances is to limit their discursive and narrative capacity, what actually drives the technological movement are the laws and trends of the market, in a few words: capitalism.

[@rjpm92]

It's crazy how the dawn of cinema was essentially stage recording and now we're coming full circle thanks to astounding technology.

[@bighands69]

The new technology makes it look cheap and fake.

[@RaXXha]

@@bighands69 Except it doesn't. 🤔

[@diollinebranderson6553]

​@@RaXXha while the tech is really cool and jawdropping, RJ is right tho. This makes films disgusting to look at. Filming on location will always be Better.

[@iconictuba4126]

​@@diollinebranderson6553Filming on such a stage is still better than filming in front of a green screen. Of course filming on location will always look the best

[@diollinebranderson6553]

@@iconictuba4126 nah on this stage it looks faker than green screen. A result of that would be a show that feels compact. It won't feel open. Even though you can see the set it in an open desert, you can still obviously tell it's fake an shot in a warehouse. Just compare any desert scene in the recent star wars show to the one in A New Hope at the beginning

[@Dedtime]

This stuff is the best. Especially for the performers. Being able to see the world in realtime vs a green/blue screen really helps them get into and interact as if they are in the environment. The performance level just goes up for them. And for the directors they get to see their vision in real time instead of just post. Post is now pre. Love it.

[@perfectionbox]

yeah now Ian McKellan can stop crying

[@krosfyah4932]

Post is the new pre. Love that my guy! 👍😂

[@mnomadvfx]

It's a step forward but unless you already have all the 3D assets pre made and ready for the pre production you are still going to be suffering that technical debt to make those assets. At least with Quixel Megascans and Metahuman they will be able to use stand in assets for the preview stage and get the kinks out before they start hairing away at asset production.

[@mattheww797]

there is no atmosphere to the scene though. No dust outside in the air

[@dreamzdziner8484]

Unreal is making everything look real and they are truly Epic!❤

[@joshjoshjoshjoshjoshjoshj]

Seems like this engine will really bring unity to cinema and gaming

[@DevranUenal]

Any source?

[@ricksterdrummer2170]

@@DevranUenal No, Source can’t do this yet.

[@BlackParade01]

@@nem0meimpunel8cessit seems like you wooshed yourself

[@ricksterdrummer2170]

@@nem0meimpunel8cessit The joke went right above your head and slapped you in the neck…

[@nicolasdidier822]

Just imagine how low budget productions or independent cinema will glow up with this technology to look closer and closer to big budget movies with green screens everywhere.

[@bighands69]

It all looks cheap and looks tacky as well.

[@twinguy9633]

yeah the future is bright with this technology advancing

[@nunobarcelos5809]

@@bighands69 nah dude this is advancing , new technology it’s always like that let’s see in 10 years …

[@Onyyyxx]

I’m happy that tech for games has advanced to the point where there are more jobs for folks on a team.

[@SamosIMP]

if anything the jobs will be decreasing.

[@Extremexboxplayer]

@@SamosIMP how lmao, the amount of people you'd need for film increase with this. you still have all the roles in a film traditionally but now you could include developers alongside the normal visual fx artists.

[@russellcountyonline]

@@Extremexboxplayer all the small businesses that will be left out of the loop when scenes are shot on location? that impact is huge.

[@Immortal_BP]

whats most amazing to me is how they are rendering such detailed scenes, IN REAL TIME.

[@bmabs35]

This was a fantastic demo. Absolutely ridiculous how far gaming and gaming technology has come.

[@comewithcarson8191]

Dude said this was $400k. Imagine this replicated inside a cube with a projection on all walls and different objects you can interact with other than flashlight like guns. It would be like VR without the goggles.

[@Fishmaat404]

It would be like VR without VR, genius!

[@arielshpitzer]

non 3D is boring

[@Ti-kp9gh]

And VR without 3D. So less immersive.

[@scorepoint8118]

It would be VR without the V! GENIUS!

[@SpicyRikers]

literally the Holodeck From star trek lol

[@OneAndOnlyMe]

When they called it "Unreal" back in the day, they nailed the name. It's mind blowing how far the engine has come.

[@bappyhasanjahid4985]

Gaming and Cinema, one of the best tech collab ever.

[@Noobstar25]

Epic and Unreal they are truly doing unreal things

[@davidvang3926]

This with VR tech would be amazing. Can't wait til the next 20 years

[@fireaza]

There's actually been a number of productions that have made use of VR! The director being able to check out a virtual set using a VR headset is a VERY useful tool!

[@VREmirate]

Glad you think we have 20 years! Let's go!

[@stephmo371]

Reminds me of the set of 1899. Y'all should see the behind the seems of 1899. Very cool set overall.

[@dndsmith1ify]

And so sad it was cancelled.

[@FTChomp9980]

Filming at a Real Location makes it so much better because it creates a experience like no other makes the character feel like they are there.

[@rico-228]

but need to 3d render it

[@sav145]

sure but production companies think about profits,they dont give a eff about what actors feel.

[@Vamatt99218]

Yes, these volume stages help with costs but make the movie less immersive

[@ChipJones421]

@@sav145 Exsctly and filming on location sometimes earns the production a rather handsome rebate. It costs more to digitally shoot with CGI than actual location setsm

[@phantom3146]

Obviously this is for when you can’t create a real set or visit a location or If your movie is in a more fantastical/fictional setting

[@BearsDenOneinVain]

You can tell this dude "loves" his job, and talking about it! Love to see it!

[@liameneuk]

Now this is immersivity that can be enjoyed comfortably. Imagine it be used for indoor digital tourism...

[@pseudonymousbeing987]

That flashlight is spectacular

[@vicenteahumada8761]

This tech is really amazing but in shows like the Book of Boba Fett/The Mandalorian/Obi-Wan. There’s a lot of Volume used scenes that feel like the characters are in a diorama or a stage rather than a lived in environment. Maybe they just haven’t utilized it in the most beneficial way. Still a really awesome advancement regardless though.

[@bighands69]

It just looks inferior to real environments using 35mm film.

[@RomboutVersluijs]

If this would have a sort movable floor or something the camera could also move more freely. That would be totally bonkers!

[@knaditya8228]

they did that on 1899! tv show it was amazing!

[@bighands69]

How about a real floor with real cameras and not using CCTV production values.

[@knaditya8228]

@@bighands69 what do you mean? Real cameras and real floor? what are you talking about?

[@peteryakubu3434]

This is a wonderful advancement

[@rico-228]

2022 a big hop into to the future

[@WeareVRMUSIC]

We want this for VR Production! ✌️😊

[@someoneontheinternet3090]

This is insane. So cool.

[@owenvalenciahageman4892]

Insane stuff

[@dr_sanhattan]

6:00 screen really tricked me, so well done

[@mycollegeshirt]

brings new meaning to the whole world's a stage.

[@Star_cab]

This is very interesting tech. It looks fantasic for grand vistas. I'm sure down the road they will work on the environments to look less static and sterile. Much like in old star wars movies where extras would do things in the background (move boxes,walk around, inspect things etc.)

[@Nutrafin-3D]

How is the actual screen made? Is it projection from somewhere or actual massive lcd screens?

[@peterlenham3180]

The latter.

[@manchesterunitedno7]

Disney own several larger 360 degrees (including the floor) of The Volume walls in their soundstages all over the world.

[@rico-228]

yes

[@astronotics531]

Disney doesn’t use UE anymore, they have their own engine for The Volume now.

[@RadfordCastro1]

@@astronotics531Actually, this is many steps up from what ILM was doing with regards to virtual sets.

[@boskee]

@@astronotics531 That's incorrect. StageCraft still uses Unreal, but the final renderer uses their inhouse Helios.

[@xelaander8429]

Yeah, no. Disney does not own that many sets of this calibre "all over the world"

[@GreyplayComics]

this is pretty brilliant.

[@camovecmin4968]

what an amazing invention!

[@Gigga101]

Insane tech man 🔥🔥

[@MN-jw7mm]

If anyone saw the recent Mandalorian episode, that was mostly this. Fantastic tech.

[@mitchrich6]

Incredible

[@GameDynastyPro]

Really amazing

[@AbiNubli]

The Oblivion started it. The Mandalorian made Hollywood adopted it

[@ikayabuah1]

Incredible.

[@jaktek4242]

Nothing beats real sets and real locations in film. Your eyes might not notice the difference, but your brain does.

[@groundzerostudio773]

Crazy stuff!

[@JulesCalella]

This is incredible!

[@mrbobo86]

That flashlight thing is epic

[@korganos]

Is that a pun?

[@TheTableReads]

I’m curious what the pixel density is on these screens

[@a9udn9u-vanced]

This is so freaking cool

[@paulbennetjoshua]

Amazing! We now have "moving (motion capable) sets". Or should we say Mo'sets 💡😉

[@MarcelTrindade]

That's exciting. And scary. And fun.

[@Gr8Talk]

Amazing!

[@SantaJClaus]

Incredible. 💚♥️

[@mydreaminorbit9297]

The volume is awesome technology but film studios should not completely depend on this. The sense of depth and scope is lost. Kenobi vs Andor proves this while The Batman shows how it should be used.

[@bebaguette766]

The Batman had similar issues, but to smaller extent. Felt stagey on several occasions.

[@edenassos]

That can be solved easily when transparent displays become mainstream in 10 years via rotoscoping.

[@stevenbaker153]

Andor used a lot of real locations and didn't feel at all like it was on a soundstage, unlike Kenobi

[@josephmayfield945]

This tech is garbage, and continues the path of unimaginative film making.

[@purvue]

They can dial in depth of field with this as well.

[@DeViceCrimsin_]

Wait, you know what this reminds me of?! When car guys and journalist get together on a track day to lap the hottest hypercar or racecar (yes hypercar not supercar) fresh of the factory line.

[@DonGraphifx]

Well this reminds me of the holodeck in Star Trek Enterprise

[@Aveeguides]

Almost all of The Mandalorian was filmed this way. Jon Favreau was one of the first directors to go all in on this type of filming. What they did on set was have almost a 360 screen of this tech-then they filled the floor with real props. It looked so real that actors would walk into the screen sometimes haha.

[@shoahilarif7957]

The screen in mandalorian was just a big 360 tv with a 2nd video. This is more like a video game render. Everything in the screen is 3d model not a video

[@josephmayfield945]

And that’s why that show is forgettable - like all other Star Wars.

[@gruskoda8511]

Wow….just wow

[@rustyrobots426]

Amazing when utilised correctly. Please note we don't want empty feeling "sets" like in some of the star wars shows

[@amysteriousviewer3772]

It's best when it's used to extend or enhance real locations or physical sets. It's essentially just a really advanced green-screen.

[@ashishhembrom3905]

After 25890 years ign finally decides to do real gaming journalism.

[@AnthonyHadleyJr]

Damn, GoT caught a stray in this video 😂 And it was absolutely deserved lol.

[@Andryxafication]

It's awesome technology!

[@Introvert_Rider]

Everyone has fantasys that made to be real.. like you into it old and young

[@TheVFXbyArt]

The only missing component is making this environment as bright as daylight, I.e the screens, this way you would capture actual lens artifacts that were affected by the screen

[@TommyFortunemusic]

This is wild

[@xamurai00]

Imagine been inside a cylindrical dome where you can walk on the spot. The walls are high reflective projection screens and behind you at all times is a drone equipped with one of these cameras with eye tracking that projects wherever you are looking. As close to a holodeck as we will get for now.,

[@christiandebney1989]

What about the color space? ive used professional VP plates and you cant grade it

[@whateveri]

Sick !!

[@SilverUnderworld]

this is amazing

[@swiftstreak98]

Toho should consider using this for their next Godzilla film

[@vandresitor]

It would be very nice to invent an image stabilizer for those who recorded the video

[@ilhmgst]

the power of realtime rendering

[@jge123]

Don't forget that the story is still the most important part.

[@derekarthur512]

So basically the concept behind the iconic Matrix vfx shot, except now we can do it practically lol.

[@kunangkunang7643]

This is Awsome dudes

[@pencilvania777]

🤩..IT JUST NEEDS FULL CIRCLE ROUND DISPLAY SO LIGHTING CAN MATCHED IN EVERY SHOT...THEN THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL BE PERFECT

[@TeamEmperor]

We're getting closer day by day to a VRMMORPG

[@TheOMT]

That's amazing, it must be better for the actors to be able to see the world in real time.

[@shariarzaman]

Damn....This is insane.

[@imAndrewRussell]

Ben is so funny! We love to see ben!

[@eruannster]

Having worked in movies, saying "we've put this very professionally with zipties and ducttape" sounds *exactly* like how most filmmaking is done.

[@rsouthgate]

So the system is rendering only the computed backdrop to the camera? But with a subject in shot doesn’t that mean there are reflections from the out-of-shot background that won’t be accurate? And can the background handle multiple cameras capturing the scene at the same time?

[@Sheriftolba_]

This is like Doug Trumbull detailing his matte painting techniques to Ridley Scott for Blade Runner, or Stanley Kubrick ofc!

[@_TheRam]

Is this in the US or Canada? Are they showcasing this technology at any events or expos in london?

[@rikysangatganteng88]

insane

[@reeshavroy0]

Future is Now! 💯

[@miquelangeloliver7626]

It looks so real that it almost seems unimpressive !!!

[@sauravshukla7391]

A complete mindf**k camera

[@elyt]

Wow.

[@Octamed]

Are the screens LED panels or rear projection?

[@NichoTBE]

I'm wondering what is the spec of the PC running all that?

[@dndsmith1ify]

Oh.... That's insane...

[@fiery_transition]

Does anyone know if unity has been doing someting similar or tried to compete in a similar market, such as this?

[@forcommentpurposes]

How will they fix the lighting issue.

[@dennismay9062]

This is truly the beginning of the "holo deck" on star trek - next generation!

[@artbyaline]

Motive! Nice :)

[@IvanOfficial96]

Is this how they going to continue visiting other planets in space and discover new ones

[@prayfawind]

they are getting closer to making a Holodeck

[@rocknroller3000]

Do you have to crop out their feet?, Or is there some post done to blend in real environments from the floor? Like Sand, gravel, grass etc.

[@jozzensan]

the stage gets prepared with props so it blends for example sand and rocks that blend it togehter watch the mandalorian bts to see more of it

[@Gary_Hun]

There isn't such a thing called Digital Space. Virtual, damn it.

[@yojimbo3681]

When can this be commercialized for home theater use?

[@dannypassion]

🔥🔥

[@jumowagames]

now Id like to see gameplay

[@jspr49]

It’s like an irl HDRI

[@DeViceCrimsin_]

Rich person VR. (For clarification, this is a compliment. It's very exciting tech). (Now for fun, imagine it with sci-fi level “hard light” magic. And what we can do with that).

[@MichaelSupelano]

Please bring CorridorCrew there! they would make some great content