Video game footage is so perfect that people can’t believe it’s not real life

Virgin Radio

11 May 2022, 09:32

If you grew up playing incredibly enjoyable but visually basic video games like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, then it’s safe to say technology has progressed somewhat since then. But even in this age of ultra-realistic games and Virtual Reality, new footage has emerged which is so perfect that people are questioning whether the graphics are actually real life.

The new graphics are made with Unreal Engine 5, a 3D computer graphics engine and, even though it is just a couple of minutes of a simulation of a Japanese train station, it has caused quite a stir because, well, it’s almost too good! 

The footage has been created by 3D environment artist Lorenzo Drago, and is a replication of Etchū-Daimon train station in Toyama, Japan.

Its creator explained that it a high-res render (around 7 frames per second), and that it took “about a month” to make.

Seriously, if you weren’t told otherwise, you’d assume that the footage was of an actual train station.

Have a look at it here:

Unreal Engine 5 is an advanced real-time 3D tool, which puts high-end graphics and visual design together with audio, lighting, animation and other capabilities. 

Whilst the footage of the train station isn’t part of a larger game, and isn’t necessarily an indication of what games will generally look like in Unreal 5, it has certainly caused gamers to get excited about possibilities for the future.

One person commented on YouTube: “These are the level of graphics I have dreamt about since being a kid….incredible.”

Another person said: “I kept expecting something horrifying to pop up or creep around a corner. This straight up looks like found footage from a live action horror movie. I'd love to see this environment in a horror game for real.”

Other people were simply blown away by how realistic the footage is. One said: “Fantastic work! I had to watch it several times to make sure this isn't real footage. Incredible!”

Someone else joked: “I’m convinced. We’re in the Matrix.”