Is there anything more fascinating in fantasy worlds than slugs? But have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a slug? Epic Games Senior Technical Artist and Slug Master Asher Zhu is working to realize this dream and showed off his results of X.
He used tools and the Unreal Engine to create an adorable slug game set in a modern city. The results are impressive, judging by the video, which shows just how fluid this little character looks. These are mostly clips showing his everyday activities like walking and showering, but it may also be one of the best showcases of UE5’s capabilities for real-life gaming.
The interaction of the slug with the outside world is incredible, as are the hanging pieces of mucus that come off. It also takes the shape of the bathtub space, spilling slightly due to its size.
Since the slug is a liquid entity, in Zhu’s game it interacts with the world as a liquid does. This means that it can take the shape of the space it is in, flatten and evaporate in the sun.
This last point even ties into the main idea of the game! The main challenge appears to be keeping the slug hydrated, with showers and drink machines shown as good sources of nutrition.
Zhu has been working on the slug game for several years now, posting updates from time to time. Despite UE5’s impressive capabilities, most of the credit goes to Zhu for developing this particular technology.
Zhu’s slug game doesn’t have a title yet and there’s no indication of a release date, so don’t expect any time soon. He clarified that the game is at the prototype stage, since the slug technology was complex in engineering terms.
