Epic Acquires Hypersense, a Company Specialized in Animating Avatars

Epic Acquires Hypersense

In online games we can chat through text and voice, we can make our character perform greetings and even dances, but there is something that is still missing: to be able to express with your own gestures the emotions that you are living within them. So this is the next thing that could come through Epic Games developer tools after purchasing Hypersense.

Epic and Hypersense

Fortnite Skye

The latest acquisition of Epic Games is Hypersense , a company that just doesn’t sound like much to you but that a few months ago surprised with the open beta of its Hyprmeet application. This application or complement, because it is really intended to be used together with streaming applications such as OBS or Zoom-type videoconferences, allows the user to place an avatar that emulates each and every one of their facial gestures . Or, at least, it tries to do it in the most reliable way possible.

As you can see in the video that follows this paragraph, this is nothing really new because companies like Apple already introduced it a few years ago thanks to their Memojis and the use of cameras with depth of field technology such as those introduced in Face. ID. And the truth is that at that time it was already working very well and right now it does the same or better.

However, the great advantage of Hyprmeet is that it does not need any type of TrueDepth camera and it is enough with the same webcam that you already have installed on your computer or using a DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam.

Thus, if you have a little imagination, you can think of different types of scenarios where a technology of this type could be extremely interesting. And yes, video games are one of them. It is true that it is not the same for everyone or at all times, but being able to be in chat rooms or spaces reserved for these uses could be very striking and provide more realism to the interaction between players.

Fortnite with custom facial expressions?

Fortnite Avengers

Therefore, taking into account that Epic was made with this technology and that Fortnite is its great banner right now, does it mean that we could see Hyprmeet integrated into the popular Battle Royale? The answer is that practically anything could happen.

Of course, taking into account that Fortnite is already much more than a simple FPS where you want to be the last to fall, having this possibility of your character showing your same facial expressions would be a point in his favor in order to enhance that aspect more social that has long cultivated through parties, exclusive events and much more.

Despite this, Epic has not made any comment and the most they have said is that the main interest is to welcome the talented Hypersense employees within the company so that they can continue working with total freedom on what they are passionate about.

By the way, if you are attracted to it and you want to try Hyprmeet, you will have to see if you can download the application from somewhere on the web. Because right now from the official website you can’t and the only thing you’ll see is the acquisition announcement.