Tesla appears to be swapping out its current visualization software for something more powerful. The electric car maker is replacing its Godot engine with Unreal Engine to create the graphics that drivers see on their screens during Autopilot and Full Self-Driving modes.
A Tesla hacker known as greentheonly uncovered evidence of this change in the company’s latest 2025.20 firmware update. The code shows Unreal Engine references specifically for visualization systems. Right now, this update only appears in Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that have AMD computer chips.
Tesla currently uses the Godot engine to show what the car’s cameras and sensors detect around it. These visualizations display other cars, pedestrians, traffic cones, and road markings as simple 3D shapes on the vehicle’s screen. The graphics work but they’re pretty basic compared to what’s possible with modern technology.
Tesla’s current Godot-based visualizations show basic 3D shapes for cars, pedestrians, and road elements on the vehicle’s screen.
Unreal Engine could change that completely. It’s the same software that powers many of today’s most realistic video games. With this upgrade, Tesla’s screens could show near photo-realistic images of what’s happening around the car. Drivers might see more detailed representations of their surroundings, making it easier to comprehend what the car’s autonomous systems are doing. The enhanced graphics could create a more video game-like experience while driving, making the interface more engaging and intuitive for users.
Tesla isn’t the first car company to make this switch. Rivian already uses Unreal Engine for its vehicle displays. Ford, GMC, Volvo, and Lotus have also integrated the technology into their cars. Epic Games, which makes Unreal Engine, has been working hard to get more car manufacturers to use its software. The growing automotive adoption of gaming technology represents a major shift in how car companies approach in-vehicle interfaces.
The connection between Tesla and Epic Games isn’t entirely new. The companies worked together before when Tesla’s Cybertruck appeared in Epic’s popular game Fortnite. That partnership might have laid the groundwork for this technical collaboration.
Neither Tesla nor Epic Games has officially commented on this change. The implementation seems to be in early stages since it’s only showing up in certain models. The Cybertruck doesn’t have the update yet. The improved visualizations could help drivers better understand Autopilot’s capabilities, as Tesla continues collecting data from nine billion miles of real-world driving to enhance system monitoring and overall safety performance.
As the rollout continues, more Tesla vehicles with AMD chips will likely get these upgraded visualizations, giving drivers a much clearer depiction of how their car sees the world.