Japan has discovered innovative applications for game engines originally developed for video game creation. Tools such as Unity and Unreal Engine are now being utilized beyond gaming in fields like flood simulations, urban planning, and retail innovation. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, companies and local governments are adopting these technologies to build digital twins and virtual environments that help visualize real-world scenarios and improve decision-making processes.
From Gaming to Real-World Applications
Originally designed for video game development in the 1980s, game engines have evolved to support graphics rendering and input processing. Today, they are widely used across various industries. Unity Technologies and Epic Games, the creators of Unity and Unreal Engine respectively, dominate a significant share of this market.
Urban Planning and Construction
Construction company Taisei Corporation has been leveraging game engine technology since 2020 to create digital twins of redevelopment projects. These virtual models enable municipal leaders to view proposed developments and request real-time modifications.
Disaster Preparedness
The technology is also being employed for disaster readiness. Tokyo-based startup Cluster has partnered with the city of Sendai to simulate floods using hazard maps. Residents can explore these scenarios in virtual environments to better understand risk areas. "Currently, industrial applications are the main use of the metaverse," said Cluster CEO Naoto Kato.
Retail and Cultural Innovations
Retailers are also adopting game engine-powered platforms. On VRChat, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store has created and sold 3D kimonos, allowing users to dress avatars in traditional clothing. The company has also recreated cultural performances like Iwami Kagura in virtual form. The project attracted around 10,000 visits within a week, with about 20% of users coming from outside Japan. "We look to use our understanding of users gained through consumer-oriented businesses, such as avatar sales, and our track record with Iwami Kagura to receive orders for virtual space production from companies and local governments," said Louis Okazaki, head of the metaverse unit at Daimaru Matsuzakaya.
Expanding Horizons
As industries experiment with these tools, the use of game engines is expanding beyond entertainment into infrastructure, disaster management, and commerce. "The essence of the metaverse is how to use game technology for things other than games," Kato added.
