If you’ve been itching to see what Unreal Engine 5.3 can do, a new tech demo titled Cyber Streets, crafted by artist Sciontidesign is now available for download. Inspired by classics like Samaritan, Blade Runner, and Cyberpunk, this demo is sure to catch the attention of both developers and players alike.
The demo stands out primarily because it relies solely on dynamic lighting, showcasing the potential of UE5 without any of its more complex features, such as Lumen or Path Tracing. Instead, Sciontidesign has incorporated techniques like Nanite with Distance Field Meshes, Ambient Occlusion, and Screen Space Reflections. It’s an interesting way to demonstrate what can be achieved with the engine’s core capabilities.
I had a chance to run this demo on my NVIDIA RTX 5090, and let me tell you, the performance was impressive. The frame rate stayed above 60FPS at Native 4K settings while everything was cranked up to Epic levels. Almost all light sources cast shadows, adding depth to the scenes, but I did notice some invisible walls that took away from the experience. Also, those screen-space reflections left some to be desired due to their usual visual quirks.
The true highlight here is the art style. Sciontidesign has done a remarkable job capturing that gritty aesthetic reminiscent of the original Samaritan tech demo. It’s not just about flashy graphics; a palpable atmosphere pulls you into this digital world.
You can download the demo through this link.
