Autodesk, Epic Games partner to deliver real-time, immersive design capabilities to customers

Autodesk has announced a strategic collaboration with Epic Games to accelerate immersive real-time (RT) experiences across industries, with an initial focus on architecture, engineering and construction (AEC).

Autodesk customers face challenges to deliver project outcomes at a faster pace, at lowered costs and with labour shortages, which require more open, connected workflows and third-party integrations that simply work together. This joint effort with Epic Games aims to make immersive RT environments easily accessible to designers, engineers and construction professionals, so they can deliver more innovative projects in less time.

As part of the company’s ongoing goal of connecting the physical and digital worlds, the first integrated offering is Epic Games’ Twinmotion for Autodesk Revit, delivering real-time rendering and storytelling. As Revit is used to design, document and deliver building and infrastructure projects, Twinmotion complements the process by creating real-time visualisations for a fast, interactive design process. Autodesk intends to make Twinmotion for Revit available to all Revit customers as part of an upcoming release.

“We know our customers are looking for more visualization and collaboration experiences through extended reality,” said Autodesk EVP of AEC Design, Amy Bunszel. “Together with Epic Games, we will expand on what’s possible. In immersive environments, designers can communicate to their project teams and clients with unparalleled realism how projects will look and feel upon completion for better decision-making and outcomes.”

Autodesk and @EpicGames strengthen collaboration with new @AutodeskRevit and @Twinmotion integration: https://t.co/coMBQJvoli. pic.twitter.com/JGJwDzjl3L

— Autodesk (@autodesk) September 27, 2022

Epic and Autodesk have been teaming up since 2008 when the latter joined Epic Games’ Integrated Partners Programme, enabling integration of Autodesk 3D design software with Epic’s Unreal Engine. In 2021, both firms collaborated to offer a new Unreal Live Link for Maya plugin, allowing media and entertainment (M&E) creators to stream data from Maya to Unreal in real-time.

“The integration between Autodesk Revit and Twinmotion promises to deliver a truly seamless, real-time 3D experience for design professionals,” said Marc Petit, Epic Games’ vice president, Unreal Engine Ecosystem. “By tapping into Epic’s ecosystem of real-time 3D tools and libraries, users can spend more time bringing their designs to life and less time handling complex data and technical workflows.”

Looking ahead, the companies aim to develop experiences for customers beyond AEC, including M&E and manufacturing, bringing forth the value of real-time content creation. As members of the Metaverse Standards Forum, both ogranisations are also driving open standards that enhance portability and integration, equip customers with immersive and collaborative technology, and deliver real value for customers.

Read: How Autodesk is helping its customers in creating a sustainable future