Tesla is changing the way its Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving visuals look. The company is moving from the Godot game engine to Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, which is known for high-quality, realistic 3D graphics. This change will make the in‑car driving view more detailed and smooth.
Firmware researcher @greentheonly found Unreal Engine files in Tesla software version 2025.20.
Right now, the update works only on Model S and Model X cars that use AMD Ryzen processors. These models have the power needed to run advanced graphics in real time.
Up to now, Tesla used Godot, an open‑source graphics engine, for its driving displays. Unreal Engine can handle more realistic 3D environments, better lighting, and smoother animations, which could make the car’s display look closer to a high-end video game.
What drivers might see
Unreal Engine can show traffic, pedestrians, and road layouts in greater detail. The main screen is already showing the new visuals during testing. The vehicle model and surrounding objects look more realistic and animations run better than before.
With this upgrade, the display could even show effects like rain or different lighting conditions, giving the driver a clearer sense of what the car detects.
Current limitations
- Works only on AMD-powered Model S and Model X
- Only the main screen shows the new visuals at this stage, not the instrument cluster
- Tesla has not publicly confirmed the change, but the software data strongly suggests it’s real
Why Tesla might be doing this
Tesla already uses Unreal Engine for simulation work, like building realistic virtual models of cities such as San Francisco for training Autopilot systems. Using the same engine for both testing and the in‑car display could make development faster and keep visuals consistent.
Better, more accurate visuals can also help drivers trust Autopilot and FSD by showing exactly what the sensors see around the car.
Tesla usually rolls out big updates slowly. The Unreal Engine visual system is likely to stay in testing for some time before reaching more models. The first rollout is focused on cars with hardware capable of running it smoothly.
Drivers can expect future updates to make Autopilot’s view more lifelike and easier to read, bringing simulation‑level graphics into the driving experience.
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