The Unreal Orlando Chapter made it's return with a re-launch event hosted at the Melrose Center inside the downtown Orlando Orange County Library, drawing a crowd of over 70 game developers, students, recent grads, and tech company leaders. The kickoff event was a renewed sense of community for those who use Unreal Engine as their creative and professional playground.

The event featured a number of speakers including Steven Isaacs, Senior Manager of Programs and Partnerships at Epic Games. Isaacs shared his excitement for Orlando’s role in the Unreal community and teased the upcoming UnrealFest, which will take place in early June at the Orange County Convention Center. Tickets will go on sale in early April.

“This is a huge deal for Orlando,” said Caris Baker, co-owner of Astro Crow Games and founder of the newly launched Bandit Stamp. “Having all these game developers here under one roof shows what Orlando can really do.”

Attendees included Full Sail Hall of Fame inductees Baker and Sheena Fowler, now CEO of Innovate Orlando, along with FIEA alumni, Alex Issa and Dylan Yan, who are currently developing a multiplayer horror game in Unreal.

“I kind of came here with a completely open mind,” Issa said. “I got a lot of information, especially from the guy from Epic. This chapter is going to be really helpful for my career.”

Fellow developer Dylan Yan echoed the sentiment. “Unreal Engine is a big part of what I use, and I learned a lot about events like Game Jams and UnrealFest. I want to be a bigger part of this community.”

Beyond the learning opportunities, the energy in the room made it clear that connection and collaboration were just as important.

“We spend so much time isolated in front of our computers,” said Fowler. “This is a great celebration to get our people together and celebrate Unreal Orlando.” As Unreal technology continues to shape everything from video games to military and medical simulations, this re-launch further amplifies Orlando as a hub for immersive innovation and community.