Empire of the Ants marches to PS5 November 7: Details on crafting a realistic microscopic world

With the new real-time strategy game Empire of the Ants set for release November 7 on PS5, players will be able to fully immerse themselves in the surprising world of insects, thanks to near-realistic graphics built in Unreal Engine 5. In this article, we will show you how Tower Five, a young studio based in La Rochelle in France, achieved such a naturalistic result!

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A meticulous inspirational work by Tower Five

An adaptation of Bernard Werber’s famous novel, which vividly portrays the daily life of these incredible insects, Empire of the Ants naturally opted for a realistic artistic direction. “While it’s sometimes necessary to bend reality a bit to better serve the narrative or gameplay, we generally aim for a very authentic rendering of the settings and characters,” explains Jean-Charles Schaeffert, lead artist at Tower Five.

To accomplish this ambitious goal, the 15-person team began with extensive research. Regarding environments, the studio spent a week in the Fontainebleau Forest, southeast of Paris, observing nature and taking photographs. The forest also inspired the developers in terms of level design, so much so that those familiar with the location will recognize certain levels. Finally, Tower Five even used a 3D scanner to capture real objects: roots, tree stumps, and even iconic elements of Fontainebleau like the Bilboquet rock!

Equally meticulous effort went into realistically representing the various characters—ants, termites, soldier beetles, scarabs, and many more. The team amassed a large photo library and frequently consulted encyclopedias like the Delachaux Guide to Insects of France and Europe. “We even have some real specimens preserved in resin blocks,” Jean-Charles adds, “allowing us to observe them under a magnifying glass from every angle.” The objective: to be as close to reality as possible.

Advanced 3D techniques with Unreal Engine

Once back at the studio with all these inspirational elements, the team sat down at their computers to recreate our world in three dimensions. Jean-Charles notes that Tower Five focused on several key points, such as the resolution of the models for maximum detail—our heroine 103,683rd, for instance, consisting of over 50,000 triangles. The consistency of lighting, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions, was also a major consideration. Not to mention the texture definition, for a crystal-clear rendering even up close, as well as reflections, particularly on water surfaces.

Although Empire of the Ants will be Tower Five’s first photorealistic game, the studio boasts experienced developers (like Jean-Charles, who has nearly 20 years in the field), who have previously worked on similar projects. Unreal Engine 5 has been a true asset for the developers, with features like Nanite allowing for an almost unlimited increase in triangles, or Lumen, which almost perfectly mimics the behavior of light. Jean-Charles doesn’t mince words: “A project like this, with so much realism and detail, wouldn’t have been possible without Unreal Engine 5. Ten years ago, it was still science fiction; the techniques I used in advertising and cinema are now in real-time because the tools are finally ready.”

Thus, thanks to Tower Five’s attention to detail and the latest technologies, players will be able to dive into the world of Empire of the Ants on November 7 as if they were really there. To enjoy these sumptuous visuals, it won’t be necessary to have the latest graphics card— Empire of the Ants will release on PS5. Add it to your wishlist on PlayStation Store to ensure you don’t miss this immersive experience!