While The Matrix Awakens could be nothing more than a small UE5 tech demo, The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley is already teasing something more, saying on Twitter that The Matrix Awakens will help usher in “the future of interactive storytelling and entertainment. However, it was created with the aid of members of the original movie team, including director Lana Wachowski. We don’t know exactly what this Matrix UE5 experiment is, but its mysteriousness falls right in line with the movies it’s based on. Players control Echo, who appeared in the UE5 announcement trailer, as she explores an arid landscape and finds a portal to a mysterious dark realm.

Valley of the Ancient is a short gameplay segment demonstrating early access features in Unreal Engine 5. Downloads for the new-gen-exclusive experience were sent live today ahead of a full reveal set for later this week during The Game Awards 2021. Take a guided tour of Valley of the Ancient, the UE5 Early Access showcase project.

The Matrix Awakens: An Unreal Engine 5 Experience is a high-tech Matrix experience starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, and it’s available to pre-download on PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X | S now.

Ue5 demo download