Getting Started with Cloud Rendering for Unreal Engine

Cloud rendering is transforming how studios and individual creators approach their Unreal Engine projects. Instead of waiting hours for your local machine to render complex scenes, you can leverage powerful cloud GPUs to get results in a fraction of the time. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to get started with HyperRender.

Why Cloud Rendering?

Before diving into the setup process, let's understand why cloud rendering has become essential for modern production workflows:

• Scalability: Render multiple shots simultaneously across multiple GPUs
• Speed: Access high-end GPUs like NVIDIA A100s and RTX 4090s on demand
• Cost efficiency: Pay only for the rendering time you use
• Free up local resources: Keep working while renders process in the cloud

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• Unreal Engine 4.27+ or Unreal Engine 5.x installed
• A HyperRender account (free to create)
• A project ready for rendering with Movie Render Queue configured
• Stable internet connection for uploading project files

Step-by-Step Setup

Follow these steps to configure HyperRender and launch your first cloud render:

1. Create Your Account

Head to HyperRender login page and create a free account. You'll receive verification email — click the link to activate your account.

2. Install the HyperRender Desktop App

Download and install the HyperRender MSI installer from your dashboard. This lightweight application handles:

• Project file synchronization
• Render job management
• Automatic frame downloads
• License activation

3. Activate Your Studio Key

After installation, launch the HyperRender app and enter your Studio key (found in your dashboard). This connects your local setup to your cloud account.

4. Install the Unreal Engine Plugin

The HyperRender plugin integrates directly into Unreal Engine's interface. Installation is straightforward:

1. Open the HyperRender desktop app
2. Navigate to the Plugins section
3. Select your Unreal Engine version
4. Click "Install Plugin" and restart Unreal Engine

5. Add Credits

HyperRender uses a credit-based system. Navigate to the billing section in your dashboard and add credits via Stripe. Credits are consumed based on GPU time used — you can monitor usage in real-time.

Configuring Your First Render

With everything installed, you're ready to configure your first cloud render:

Set Up Movie Render Queue

Open your Unreal Engine project and configure your shots in Movie Render Queue as you normally would. HyperRender works with your existing MRQ setup — no special configuration needed.

Select Your GPU

In the HyperRender panel within Unreal Engine, you'll see available GPU options:

• NVIDIA RTX 4090: Excellent for real-time and Lumen renders
• NVIDIA A100: Ideal for path tracing and heavy computational loads
• Multi-GPU: Distribute frames across multiple GPUs for maximum speed

Upload and Render

Click the "Upload & Render" button. HyperRender will:

1. Package your project and required assets
2. Upload files to the cloud (only changed files on subsequent renders)
3. Spin up the selected GPU(s)
4. Begin rendering your sequence
5. Automatically download completed frames to your specified folder

Monitoring Your Render

Once your render is running, you can monitor progress in several ways:

• Dashboard: View all active and completed renders with detailed statistics
• Desktop App: Real-time frame count and ETA
• Email Notifications: Get notified when renders complete or encounter issues

Best Practices

To get the most out of cloud rendering, keep these tips in mind:

• Organize your project: Keep assets referenced properly to ensure complete uploads
• Use incremental uploads: After the first upload, only changed files are synced
• Start small: Test with a few frames before rendering full sequences
• Leverage multi-GPU: For long sequences, distributing across multiple GPUs can dramatically reduce total render time

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Upload Stuck or Slow

Check your internet connection and ensure no firewall is blocking HyperRender. Large projects may take time on the first upload — subsequent uploads will be much faster.

Missing Assets in Render

Ensure all assets are properly referenced within your project. External references or absolute paths can cause issues. Use the "Validate Project" feature in the HyperRender plugin before uploading.

Render Quality Issues

Verify your MRQ settings match your intended output. Anti-aliasing, console variables, and warm-up frames can all affect final quality.

Next Steps

Now that you've completed your first cloud render, explore these advanced topics:

• Multi-GPU rendering strategies for maximum performance
• Path tracing vs Lumen — choosing the right approach
• Advanced MRQ settings for production quality

Have questions? Join our community Discord or reach out to our support team — we're here to help you get the most out of cloud rendering.