Tesla’s preparing to swap out its current graphics engine for something much more powerful. The company’s latest firmware update for Model S and Model X vehicles shows signs of Unreal Engine integration, marking a shift from the current Godot engine used for Autopilot and Full Self-Driving visualizations.
Hacker Greentheonly discovered the evidence in Tesla’s firmware version 2025.20, specifically in vehicles equipped with AMD chips. The discovery, first reported by Not a Tesla App, reveals preparation code for the new system, though it’s not active yet. The switch only affects vehicles with MCU 3 hardware, suggesting Tesla needs significant processing power for the upgrade.
The move from Godot to Unreal Engine represents a major technological leap. Godot’s an open-source, lightweight platform that displays simple vehicle models and objects on Tesla’s screens. Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, powers some of the world’s most visually impressive video games. It’ll bring photorealistic environments and detailed visual representations to Tesla’s displays, though it demands much more computational power.
Tesla’s not alone in adopting gaming technology for vehicles. Rivian already uses Unreal Engine in its systems, while Ford, GMC, Volvo, and Lotus have integrated the platform into their automotive applications. Epic Games has been actively pushing its engine into the automotive industry, recognizing cars as a new frontier for high-quality graphics. The integration of gaming technology into vehicle systems reflects a broader industry trend toward enhanced user experiences.
The enhanced visualizations could dramatically improve how drivers see their surroundings on the display screen. Instead of basic representations, Tesla owners might soon see gaming-grade detail and realism in their FSD visualizations. These improved graphics could boost driver satisfaction by making the autonomous driving experience more engaging and intuitive. The upgrade could also connect to Tesla’s broader autonomous driving development and Robotaxi program.
The rollout won’t reach all Tesla vehicles. Older models likely don’t have the hardware to run Unreal Engine’s demanding graphics. Tesla hasn’t announced when customers will see these changes active in their vehicles. The company’s also had previous connections with Epic Games through a Cybertruck appearance in Fortnite.
Neither Tesla nor Epic Games has officially commented on the discovery. For now, Tesla owners with compatible hardware can only wait to see when their vehicles will transform into gaming-grade visual machines.