How to create immersive VR experience with Unreal engine designs using Sentio VR?

Snapshot

• Is there an official Unreal Engine app for Meta Quest?

• How to export Unreal Engine designs to Meta Quest?

• How to create 360 panoramas using Unreal Engine?

• How to create immersive VR experience with Unreal Engine 360 panoramas using Sentio VR?

• Unreal Engine Vs Sentio VR

• Conclusion

  
  

Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, is one of the most powerful and versatile game engines available today. Originally designed for video game development, it has found extensive applications in various industries, including architecture, film, automotive etc. Unreal engine offers high-quality graphics capabilities enable photorealistic rendering, allowing for the creation of lifelike environments with advanced lighting and shading model which makes it ideal for Architectural visualization. It offers high quality graphics, real-time updates, advanced animation and simulation and integrations with popular design softwares like Autodesk Revit and Sketchup which makes it flexible and powerful tool for architects. 

We often get a lot of questions on how to create immersive VR experience with Unreal Engine designs. So, here are some frequently asked questions:

Is there an official Unreal engine App for Meta Quest?

As of now (June 2024), no official Unreal engine is available for Meta Quest. However, it supports a tethered (connected to PC) workflow for viewing designs in VR.

How to export Unreal engine design to Meta Quest?

The official page of Unreal engine lists all the headsets supported currently including Meta Quest. To view a model in VR mode, the headset must first be connected to the computer before VR mode is enabled.

Keep in mind that this workflow requires a minimum set of hardware requirements that you can check on the official unreal engine page

• Operating System (OS)

Windows 10 64-bit version 1909 revision .1350 or higher, or versions 2004 and 20H2 revision .789 or higher

• Processor

  Quad-core Intel or AMD, 2.5 GHz or faster

  
  

• Video RAM 8 GB RAM

  
  

• Graphic Cards

  DirectX 11 or 12 compatible graphics card with the latest drivers

  
  

There are two ways of exporting unreal engine designs to Meta Quest one is Connecting the Meta Quest headset to your system via a cable allows you to run the Unreal Engine experience in real time.The other is Wireless APK Export for a fully immersive and untethered experience, you can export your Unreal Engine scenes as an APK file and install it on the Meta Quest headset. This method allows users to experience the VR environment without being physically connected to a computer.

Step 1: Set Up Your Project for Meta Quest:

• Install Required Plugins: Ensure that you have the Oculus VR and OpenXR plugins enabled in Unreal Engine. These plugins are necessary for deploying your project to Meta Quest.

• Configure Project Settings:  In Unreal Engine, go to Edit > Project Settings > Platforms > Android. Configure the settings to match the specifications required for Meta Quest, such as package name, minimum SDK version, and target SDK version.

  
  

Step 2: Package Your Project

Build the APK: In Unreal Engine, go to File > Package Project > Android and choose ASTC or ETC2 as the texture compression format. This will generate an APK file that you can install on your Meta Quest device.

Step 3: Deploy to Meta Quest:

Install APK: Connect your Meta Quest to your computer via USB, enable developer mode, and use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool to install the APK on your device. You can also use the Oculus Developer Hub for a more user-friendly installation process.

How to create 360 panoramas using Unreal Engine?

Creating 360 panoramas from Unreal Engine is a great way to showcase your designs immersively and download them to your desktop locally

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create high-quality 360 panoramas using Unreal Engine

Step 1: Set Up Your Scene

1. Open Your Project:

   • Start Unreal Engine and open the project containing the scene you want to capture.

2. Position Your Camera:

   • Place a camera in the scene where you want to capture the 360 panorama. Make sure the camera is positioned at the desired height and angle.

     
     

Step 2: Install the Ansel Plugin

1. Enable Ansel Plugin:

   • Go to Edit > Plugins.

   • Search for "Ansel" and enable the NVIDIA Ansel plugin.

   • Restart Unreal Engine to apply the changes.

Step 3: Capture the 360 Panorama

1. Activate Ansel:

   
   

Press Alt+F2 to activate NVIDIA Ansel. The Ansel will allow you to adjust the settings to capture the panorama.

2. Set Capture Type: 

In the Ansel interface, set the capture type to Stereo 360.

3. Adjust Settings:

Adjust the resolution and other settings as needed. Higher resolutions will produce better quality panoramas but will take longer to capture.

4. Capture the Image:

Once you have configured the settings, click the capture button. Ansel will process the scene and generate a stereo 360 panorama 

Step 4: Save and Export the Panorama

The 360 panorama image is downloaded to your desk locally You can upload it to platforms like Sentio VR for viewing in VR headsets or share it online.

Credit: Unreal engine forum

How to create immersive VR experience with Unreal engine 360 panoramas using Sentio VR?

Viewing your Unreal engine 360 panoramas using SENTIO VR is a straightforward, user-friendly process. It offers a cloud-based workflow, enabling you to seamlessly view your high-quality renders in virtual reality on standalone headsets like Meta Quest. This method enhances the visualization experience and makes it accessible and efficient for presentations and collaborative reviews.

1. Export panoramas to your desktop

Panorama created in D5 render can be exported locally to your PC either one or several at a time with adjusted settings, textured resolutions and optimized poly counts. Here is a guide for available file formats, resolutions, and modes for exporting panoramas locally:

• File format: PNG, JPG

• Mode: Image, Panorama

• Resolution: 2K, 8K or 16K

2. Drag and drop to your SENTIO VR account

Click on "Create Tour", add your panorama images in the right order to create a 360 virtual tour

3. Add hotspots, floor plans, notes, audio, and video

Customize your virtual tour by adding floor plans, hotspots, notes, audio and video to make an interactive experience.

4. Present 360 tours in the SENTIO VR app for Meta Quest

Download the SENTIO VR App for Quest and enter your unique 6-digit access code to view your panoramas in VR. Once the virtual tour is created, there is no need to connect the PC to the headset and the experience can be shared via cloud to any client or stakeholder.

You can also share the VR experience with the stakeholders who may not have a VR headset. With Sentio VR real-time casting, you can Cast your VR view on a URL via simple link onto a screen which allows all the stakeholders to collaborate in real-time either in-person or remote setting. 

5. Join remote collaboration meetings in VR with clients and stakeholders

The VR tours are available for individual presentations and collaborative meetings where multiple people can remotely join and review the designs.

6. Offline Projects Download

In case there is no access to the Internet or a weak Wifi connection, download your Projects offline (360 tours + 3D walkthroughs) directly on your VR headset to access them from anywhere anytime.

Unreal engine VS Sentio VR

	Sentio VR	Unreal Engine
Standalone app on Meta Quest	✅	❌
No Need for High-End PC	✅	❌
Real-time collaboration in VR	✅	❌
Download projects offline	✅	❌
Cast VR view to a URL	✅	❌
User Management for business	✅	❌
Share as a web link	✅	❌
High-Quality Visualization	✅	✅

Conclusion

Unreal Engine and Sentio VR offer unique features that can enhance your VR workflows differently. Unreal Engine provides the tools needed to create detailed, interactive, and photorealistic 3D environments. Sentio VR, on the other hand, offers a streamlined process for viewing and sharing these environments in a collaborative, immersive VR setting. Using both platforms together allows you to leverage the advanced capabilities of Unreal Engine for creation and the user-friendly features of Sentio VR for presentation and collaboration.

If you want to try this cloud-based workflow for your projects, Talk to us today!