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Oceanology Next-Gen

oceanology-nextgen

Oceanology Next-Gen is a production-ready water simulation system for Unreal Engine, engineered from the ground up in C++ for predictable performance and scalability. Whether you're building vast open-world environments, cinematic sequences, or competitive multiplayer experiences, Oceanology Next-Gen delivers the visual fidelity and runtime efficiency your project demands.

Who It's For​

Oceanology Next-Gen is designed for teams who need water that works as good as it looks:

  • Open-World Studios — Seamless oceans spanning kilometers with consistent performance via quadtree LOD and World Partition support.
  • Cinematic Productions — Photoreal waves, volumetric underwater rendering, and god rays for film-quality visuals.
  • Multiplayer Projects — Deterministic wave calculations ensure synchronized water states across all clients without network overhead.
  • Technical Artists — Exposed parameters, preset Data Assets, and material hooks for full customization from stylized to hyperreal.

Core Features​

Wave Simulation​

  • Hybrid Spectral System — Combines Gerstner waves for broad swells with FFT for high-frequency detail.
  • Coastal Breakers — Math-based breaking waves with foam generation at configurable shore distances.
  • Deterministic Calculations — Frame-perfect synchronization for multiplayer and replay systems.

Performance & Scalability​

  • C++ Quadtree Tessellation — Dynamic mesh density based on camera distance and screen-space error.
  • World Partition Integration — Native streaming support for massive worlds without manual chunking.
  • GPU-Optimized Shaders — Designed for high-end hardware with Shader Model 6 and DirectX 12.

Visual Effects​

  • Flow-Based Foam — Procedural foam that responds to wave motion, obstacles, and vessel wakes.
  • Crest Splashes — Niagara-driven particle systems triggered by wave steepness thresholds.
  • Underwater Volumetrics — Light scattering, caustics, and god rays with depth-based attenuation.
  • RVT Landscape Integration — Seamless shoreline blending via Runtime Virtual Textures.

Gameplay Systems​

  • Pontoon Buoyancy — Physics-accurate floating with configurable density, damping, and wave response.
  • Swimming Component — Ready-to-use character swimming with surface detection and underwater states.
  • Water Volumes — Trigger-based regions for gameplay logic, audio zones, and post-process effects.

Workflow & Flexibility​

  • Preset Data Assets — Save and share complete water configurations across levels and projects.
  • Multiple Water Bodies — Infinite oceans, bounded lakes, rivers, and pools with independent settings.
  • Appearance Range — From photoreal ocean rendering to stylized toon shading with the same core system.

Technical Requirements​

RequirementSpecification
EngineUnreal Engine 5.6 or newer
PlatformWindows (macOS/Linux experimental)
Graphics APIDirectX 12 with Shader Model 6
HardwareHigh-end dedicated GPU recommended (RTX 3070+ or equivalent)
Performance Note

Oceanology Next-Gen is optimized for high-end hardware. While it runs on mid-range GPUs, full visual quality requires modern graphics cards with adequate VRAM (8GB+).

Documentation Structure​

This documentation is organized to get you productive quickly:

SectionDescription
SetupInstallation, project configuration, and first scene verification.
WavesGerstner wave parameters, presets, and wave layer customization.
BuoyancyPontoon-based floating physics for vessels and objects.
SwimmingCharacter swimming component setup and configuration.
UnderwaterVolumetric effects, post-processing, and caustics.
QuadtreeLOD system, tessellation settings, and performance tuning.
Rivers & LakesBounded water bodies with flow and spline-based rivers.

Quick Start​

  1. Install the Plugin — Enable Oceanology Next-Gen in your project's Plugins menu.
  2. Add Water to Your Level — Use Quick Add (+) and search for Oceanology Infinite Ocean.
  3. Add the Manager — Place an Oceanology Manager actor to initialize the system.
  4. Configure Water Volume — Add an Oceanology Water Volume for buoyancy and gameplay features.
  5. Play — Enter Play mode to see your ocean in action.

For detailed instructions, see the Setup Guide.

Support & Community​

Need Help?

  • Discord — Join our community for real-time support and discussions.
  • Marketplace — Open a support ticket through the Unreal Marketplace page.
  • Issue Reports — Include engine version, plugin version, logs (Saved/Logs/), and screenshots.

Stay Updated

  • Follow the changelog for new features and fixes.
  • Check the FAQ for common questions and solutions.

Version History​

VersionDateHighlights
1.0.02025Initial release with hybrid wave system, quadtree tessellation, and buoyancy.

Ready to dive in? Start with the Setup Guide →