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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A cutscene movie is a cinematic sequence inside a video game that presents story, dialogue, or other events while ordinary gameplay pauses or the player has little control. For example, Epic Games calls Fortnite’s beginning-of-season story sequence a cutscene: it gives players background on the new season. The term describes how a game presents a sequence—not necessarily how that sequence was made.
What makes a sequence a cutscene?
A cutscene belongs to a video game and is connected to its story or presentation; it is not simply any film a gamer watches. Epic Games defines a cutscene, also called a cinematic, as “a sequence in a video game that plays without your interaction” in its Fortnite documentation.
That definition captures the usual experience: the game takes over to show an event, conversation, or story information. In practice, control is not always all-or-nothing. Some scenes allow occasional input or are described as semi-interactive, so the boundary depends on how the game uses the sequence. A story moment delivered through ordinary play may serve a similar purpose without being a formal cutscene.
Are cutscenes pre-rendered?
Not always. “Cutscene” refers to a sequence’s role in the game, while “in-engine” and “pre-rendered” describe how its visuals are produced.
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| Format | How it is presented | What the distinction means |
|---|---|---|
| In-engine or real-time | The game engine renders the scene as it plays. | It is generated during play rather than played back as a precomputed video. The Office québécois de la langue française’s terminology entry, last updated in 2010, describes this distinction: scène de transition. |
| Pre-rendered cinematic or video | The scene is computed in advance and played back from storage. | The visuals are a prepared video rather than a scene rendered in real time. The same OQLF entry distinguishes precomputed scenes from real-time ones. |
Neither format determines what the scene is for: both can introduce a character, explain context, or move the story forward. The label can also be used more broadly in game-design writing for non-interactive storytelling presented through animation, live action, comics, text, or audio. Hugh Hancock’s 2002 GameDeveloper article on cutscenes discusses these varied forms; this broader usage is not necessarily how every player or glossary defines the term.
Why do games use cutscenes?
A cutscene can make story information clear, shape the pace between playable sections, or give a major event room to land. Depending on the game, it may:
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- Introduce characters, a location, level, or quest.
- Explain the setting or provide context for what the player is doing.
- Build mood, foreshadow an event, or reveal a character’s reaction.
- Reward progress or show the consequences of the player’s actions.
These are options, not requirements: games can tell stories without cutscenes. A scene also trades some player agency for a more controlled presentation. Hancock’s design advice is that a scene should have a purpose; long, frequent, or weak scenes may frustrate players. That is design guidance, not a universal rule or a measured finding.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Examples of cutscene storytelling
Epic’s Fortnite example shows a cutscene providing background at the start of a season. The OQLF terminology entry describes scenes that present a level or quest, explain game context, or reveal a character. Older games also illustrate how differently story presentation can work: Hancock’s 2002 article discusses Command & Conquer briefings, Baldur’s Gate’s use of text and audio, and Max Payne’s comic-strip storytelling. These are historical examples from that article, not descriptions of current releases.
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For a game-design perspective, Chapter 16 of Level Up!: The Guide to Great Video Game Design is available as an O’Reilly chapter preview.
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