Reflections, a tech demo with a Star Wars theme that was released in 2018, showcases experimental ray tracing graphics techniques. The demo, built using Unreal Engine 4, is intended for use in video games. The demo features Captain Phasma overhearing two stormtroopers as they grumble about the assignment they have been given.
A pair of First Order stormtroopers are shown awaiting a turbolift, and they begin to complain about the numerous turbolifts that are out of service, including one that was destroyed by Kylo Ren. One of the troopers suggests that the person in charge of the facility "should be transferred to Hoth." As they turn, they discover that the doors have opened, revealing Captain Phasma. The two troopers then enter the turbolift, standing uncomfortably until it reaches Phasma's floor. After Phasma exits, one of the stormtroopers wonders, "Do you think she heard us?" The scene then transitions to the stormtroopers standing in a snowy environment, where the other stormtrooper remarks, "Yeah, I think she heard us." They then hear the sounds of animals howling and gasp in terror.
Epic Games created this short film for a keynote presentation at the Game Developers Conference in 2018. The purpose was to demonstrate the capabilities of real-time ray tracing in video games. Ray tracing is a method of simulating how light interacts with reflective surfaces, such as the reflection of elevator lighting from Phasma's armor onto the Stormtroopers' armor and the walls. Reflections was a collaborative effort between ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm's immersive entertainment studio, and Nvidia, a graphics card manufacturer. Experimental code for the Unreal Engine was used. The short film was entirely computer-generated in real-time at 24 frames per second, utilizing a four-GPU DGX Station from Nvidia, which was valued at $60,000 USD.