inZOI is built on Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), Epic Games' latest game engine that enables the photorealistic visual style that distinguishes inZOI from other life simulation games. The engine provides advanced rendering capabilities that create detailed character models, dynamic lighting, and realistic environments across all three cities.
Key Technologies
Technology | Function | Impact on inZOI |
|---|---|---|
Lumen | Real-time global illumination and reflections | Dynamic lighting that changes naturally with time of day and weather |
Nanite | Virtualized geometry for highly detailed meshes | Detailed environments and character models without performance penalty |
Virtual Shadow Maps | High-resolution dynamic shadows | Realistic shadow casting from all light sources |
MetaHuman Framework | Realistic digital human creation | Foundation for the detailed Zoi character models and facial animations |
Lumen Global Illumination
Lumen is the most visually impactful UE5 technology in inZOI. It provides fully dynamic global illumination, meaning that light bounces realistically off surfaces and through environments in real time. This creates natural-looking interiors where light streams through windows, reflects off furniture, and creates soft ambient shadows. When combined with ray tracing support, Lumen output is denoised for even higher-quality reflections and lighting.
Nanite Geometry
Nanite allows inZOI to render extremely detailed meshes without the traditional level-of-detail (LOD) management. This means objects maintain their visual quality regardless of camera distance, contributing to the game's consistent visual fidelity. This is particularly noticeable in Build Mode where furniture and architectural details remain sharp up close.
Upscaling Support
inZOI supports multiple upscaling technologies to balance visual quality with performance:
Technology | Vendor | Details |
|---|---|---|
DLSS 3.5 | NVIDIA | Deep Learning Super Sampling with frame generation |
FSR 3 | AMD | FidelityFX Super Resolution for AMD GPUs |
XeSS | Intel | Xe Super Sampling for Intel Arc GPUs |
MetalFX | Apple | macOS upscaling for Apple Silicon |
Upscaling is strongly recommended for all configurations. See System Requirements for details on compatible hardware.
Upcoming UE 5.6 Migration
The 2026 Roadmap includes preparation for an Unreal Engine 5.6 migration planned for June 2026. This upgrade is expected to bring performance improvements, new rendering capabilities, and better mod support through updated engine features. The migration is part of the "Beyond the Fundamentals" development track.