Soundscape VR: Unreal Engine 5 Upgrade Revolutionizes Immersive Music Experience
The metaverse, once hailed as the next big thing, seems to have lost some of its initial enthusiasm. The over-reliance on advanced technologies and the high cost of development and maintenance have dampened the hype surrounding this concept. However, there is still merit in the metaverse when it comes to connection and gaming. Popular digital spaces like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite are prime examples of successful metaverse worlds.
However, one experience takes a unique approach. Soundscape VR, originally released in 2017, offers players an escape through the power of music and digital creation. Founded and created by Eric Alexander, Soundscape VR aims to bring people together through music and create an immersive music visualizer.
Alexander, who holds a degree in microbiology, found his true passion in the world of computer sciences. He taught himself Unreal Engine through YouTube videos and combined his love for music festivals to create Soundscape VR. The experience allows players to enjoy music in a whole new way, with audio-reactive visuals that come to life based on the music playing in the background.
Soundscape VR offers two main modes of gameplay. In Freeplay mode, players can enter different venues and play their favorite music from Spotify, Apple Music, or their PC. The Magic Mirror mode allows players to explore specially designed worlds for their favorite musicians, such as a rock and roll castle for Slash. Additionally, there are various games to play, including Spectra Dash, a physics-based game that adds excitement to the experience.
Despite positive feedback from players, Soundscape VR has been in need of an upgrade. That’s where Unreal Engine 5 comes in. Alexander and his team have been working hard to port the game to UE5, and the results have been remarkable. The upgraded version of Soundscape VR will showcase original content and introduce new games like Sound Tag, a PvP shooting mode where players battle using fireworks, glowsticks, and grenades. Alexander also plans to combine racing and shooting elements to create a Mario Kart-esque experience.
Unreal Engine 5 provides incredible upgrades in terms of lighting effects, reflections, and polygon counts. These enhancements will bring Alexander’s vision to life and enhance the immersion of the Soundscape experience. The goal is to offer the best seat in the house at every concert, allowing everyone to have an unparalleled experience.
Looking ahead, Alexander envisions a future where the metaverse concept becomes more mainstream by 2030. As technology advances and costs decrease, digital landscapes like Soundscape VR will continue to evolve and provide even more immersive experiences for users.
The UE5 upgrade for Soundscape VR is expected to be released in January 2024. Until then, players can already enjoy the current version of Soundscape in both VR and standard gameplay. Immerse yourself in this unique music experience and see and feel music like never before.
