Explore the groundbreaking techniques for simulating massive crowds in real-time using Unreal Engine's Niagara visual effects system in this 34-minute video presentation. Discover how to overcome traditional challenges and push the boundaries of character rendering, with the potential to simulate up to a million units on-screen simultaneously. Delve into topics such as understanding bottlenecks, AI classification, particle effects, and vertex animation. Learn to leverage new Niagara features like the Animation Player Module and Finish Current Animation First Module to create "smart mesh particles" that can replace basic AIs. Examine practical examples, large scene implementations, and multiplayer considerations. Gain insights into performance optimization and future developments in crowd simulation technology for game development and real-time visualization.