I enjoyed playing the Mass Effect trilogy so much that I decided to create a mini VR version of the game just for fun. Using Unreal Engine 4 and various modding tools, I am rebuilding the original levels from the first game; so far, the Normandy is coming together beautifully.
I’d love to share the development side of this experience with other fans. I use modding tools to extract the 3D models and textures directly from the source files, then reassemble them in Blender. Since the original Normandy interior was built in Unreal Engine 3, exporting it from Blender to Unreal Engine 4 became quite complex. To solve this, I used a Python bridging tool to sync my Blender scenes directly with UE4. The next stage involved setting up materials; I used Photoshop to create emissive textures, allowing me to recreate the animated holographic effects from the original game.
On the technical side, the VR mechanics were relatively straightforward since I used a template. However, I had to develop a custom Blueprint script to get the elevators working. This was crucial for syncing the VR user’s translation with the platform, ensuring they stayed grounded rather than floating in mid-air during the transition.
Below is the gameplay test:
Below is the gameplay test:
