Photorealistic cyberpunk graphics without lighting tricks: LumenRef in Unreal Engine 6 sets new standards for cinematic renderings.
An experimental mode in the Unreal Engine 6 developer files is currently causing a stir among graphics enthusiasts.A graphics demo shows just how stunning the next generation of cyberpunk games—like the first-person shooter *No Law*—can look.
Visual effects artist Dylan Browne made a discovery in the code branches of the new engine version. The term “LumenRef” refers to a new reference mode for the Lumen global illumination system, which bridges the gap between real-time graphics and complex path tracing. The artist demonstrates what this looks like in the graphics demo above.
Light Without Artificial Tricks
Why Is LumenRef So Interesting for Developers?In traditional engines, developers usually work with invisible auxiliary lights. These artificial light sources are placed to brighten dark corners or simulate reflected light. LumenRef takes a different approach.
In the Cyberpunk scene shown, there isnot a single traditional light object. The scene is illuminated exclusively by glowing neon signs, billboards, and displays. The result is pixel-level lighting with precise reflections on wet streets and building facades.
This approach could make creating renderings much easier. Graphics specialists no longer have to manually fake lights; instead, they can leave the physically accurate light distribution to the system.
High Quality with Reduced Computing Time
Visually, LumenRef comes very close to the quality of true path tracing, yet requires only a fraction of the computing time. By comparison, the method renders orders of magnitude faster than traditional path tracers.
Of course, it doesn’t work without any computing power at all. For an 8K-resolution image with 64 temporary samplesthe test systemtook about 30 seconds per frame. The hardware used consisted of an Nvidia RTX 5090 and an AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7975WX.
In the live preview window, the mode runs in real time in principle, but currently still produces significant image noise. Therefore, for the time being, the technology is aimed at developers of cutscenes, filmmakers, and specialists in virtual productions. So it will likely be a while before we see this in video games.
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You’ll also have to be patient until the release of Unreal Engine 6. The early access launch is scheduled for late 2027. The full release is expected to follow about 12 to 18 months later.
In addition to graphical improvements, Unreal Engine 6 will feature tighter integration with the Fortnite editor, the introduction of the Verse programming language, and a new scene graph architecture.
