Epic Games
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MMO Business Roundup: Forza Horizon 6 megabans, Epic’s AI tools, and Steam Machine rumors
This industry news roundup covers several topics including Microsoft and Playground Games issuing lengthy hardware bans for Forza Horizon 6 leakers, Epic Games assuring that its AI development tools are for efficiency and not human replacement, and a legal battle over ownership of the popular Roblox game Forsaken. Additionally, rumors about Valve's Steam Machine console suggest it will be sold in multiple hardware bundles, potentially including a Steam Controller or VR headset.
Kenworth® Trucks joining the fleet with new DLC
astragon and weltenbauer. have released the Kenworth® Fire Truck Pack DLC for Firefighting Simulator: Ignite. The pack adds three new Kenworth® T480 truck configurations to the game, available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The DLC is priced at $6.99 or included in the Year 1 Season Pass.
Today I learned that Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski produced a Tony Award-winning musical
Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has a lesser-known history as a producer for award-winning theater productions. He was involved in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown and the play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, which received two Tony nominations.
After fining Google more money than exists on Earth, Russia demands so little from EA it feels like a weird joke
Russia has fined Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Battlestate Games, and NetEase approximately $27,000 each for failing to localize Russian gamers' data on domestic servers. This follows significantly larger fines levied against Google for blocking pro-Kremlin channels. While Roskomnadzor denies plans for further restrictions, the move aligns with Russia's pursuit of digital sovereignty.
Former Epic tech director announces The Immense Engine, his AI-heavy "European alternative" to Unreal
Former Epic Games technical director and Guerrilla Games co-founder Arjan Brussee has announced The Immense Engine, a new game engine he is developing with a focus on European hosting and AI integration. Brussee claims the engine will be a European alternative to Unreal Engine and Unity, and also touts potential applications for the defense industry through simulation and training.
Industry veteran Arjan Brussee announces plans to build European-based games engine
Industry veteran Arjan Brussee, co-founder of Guerrilla Games, has announced plans to develop a new European-based game engine called the Immense Engine. Brussee aims to create an alternative to existing engines like Unreal and Unity, emphasizing European hosting and compliance with local regulations, and plans to integrate advanced AI features into the development process.
"His voice and delivery was human": Darkest Dungeon developers will "never, ever" use genAI to replace narrator Wayne June
Red Hook, the developer of Darkest Dungeon, has stated they will "never, ever" use generative AI to replace the voice of the game's deceased narrator, Wayne June. Creative director Chris Bourassa declined June's posthumous permission to train an AI on his voice, emphasizing the importance of preserving the human element of his performances. The discussion touches on the ethical implications of AI voice cloning in the gaming industry, referencing a similar case involving Epic Games and James Earl Jones.
Fortnite Dev Understands The Fear That "AI Is Going To Take All Our Jobs"
Epic Games is exploring AI tools to improve game development efficiency, not to replace human jobs, according to senior external development manager Stephanie Arnett. While some in the Fortnite community are concerned about generative AI in art, Epic's focus is on speeding up tasks. Other companies like Activision, Take-Two Interactive, and Sony's Naughty Dog are also investigating AI for game development.
Gears Of War Creator Lays Out Vision For A New Game, And It Sounds Intriguing
Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has outlined his vision for a new game called "Hollow Point." The proposed two-player cooperative title would blend elements of John Wick, Carrie, and Lovecraft Country, featuring an ex-Marine with guns and a young woman with psychic powers battling Lovecraftian monsters in a New England town during a hurricane.
Guerrilla Games Co-Founder, Former Epic Games Developer is Building a New “European” Game Engine
Arjan Brussee, co-founder of Guerrilla Games and former Epic Games developer, is creating a new European game engine called Immense Engine. The engine aims to be fully hosted and compliant with European regulations, offering an alternative to US and China-based engines. It will feature integrated AI tools and a design philosophy that differs from current engines like Unreal Engine.
Games Inbox: Are you saving up for the PS6?
Readers discuss the upcoming PlayStation 6, with many expressing reluctance to spend over £500 on a new console given current financial pressures and the existing capabilities of current-generation hardware. The discussion also touches on the potential for ongoing DLC for single-player games, the success of Pokémon Pokopia, and the retirement of Nintendo veteran Takashi Tezuka.
Guerrilla Games co-founder developing European game engine to rival Unreal and Unity
Guerrilla Games co-founder Arjan Brussee is developing 'The Immensive Engine' as a European alternative to Unreal and Unity, emphasizing European hosting and compliance with local guidelines. The engine will integrate AI from the ground up, aiming to offer studios more choice and leverage AI for efficient development. Separately, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii discussed the potential of AI companions in games, envisioning them as friends to players and confirming Dragon Quest 12 is still in development.
Game and Mod Development
A co-founder of Guerilla Games, who is also an Epic Games veteran, is developing a European alternative to Unreal Engine. This initiative aims to provide a new option for game development within the European market.
Gaussian Splatting is my new favourite thing, so I hassled an ex-Epic artist to tell me everything he knows about the low-cost 'photo-real' rendering technique
Gaussian Splatting is a novel rendering technique that offers photo-realistic graphics with significantly lower resource costs compared to traditional methods. This article explores the technology with insights from former Epic Games artist Christoph Schindelar, detailing its potential to streamline game development pipelines and create highly detailed assets with less manual work. While not yet widely adopted in major releases, its ability to capture complex visual phenomena makes it a promising tool for developers, especially smaller teams.
Epic knows everyone's afraid "AI is going to take all our jobs," but Fortnite dev insists the goal of AI…
Epic Games is exploring AI tools to enhance efficiency in game development, not to replace jobs. Stephanie Arnette, senior external development manager for Fortnite, stated that the company's goal is to support developers and co-development partners with AI, addressing widespread fears about job displacement in the industry.
Random: That's Not 'Gears Of War' Or 'Dead Space', Just Another Terrible eShop Clone
The Nintendo eShop continues to host blatant rip-off games, with 'Dead Gears - Space of War' being the latest example. This title directly imitates elements from 'Gears of War' and 'Dead Space', highlighting an ongoing issue with low-quality clones on the digital storefront. Publisher Consann Real Estate has a history of releasing similar derivative titles.
Proton Experimental gets fixes for Rocket League, Crimson Desert, Helldivers 2 and more
Valve has released a new update for Proton Experimental, bringing fixes for several games including Rocket League, Crimson Desert, and Helldivers 2, improving their performance and stability on Linux and SteamOS. The update also addresses regressions found in Proton 11 beta and ensures continued compatibility with Easy Anti-Cheat for games like Rocket League.
'90s virtual reality, Battlefield 2142, and Total War: This month in PC Gamer 10, 20, and 30 years ago
This article looks back at PC Gamer magazine issues from May 1996, May 2006, and May 2016, highlighting cover stories and notable news from those periods. It revisits predictions about virtual reality and online gaming, discusses sequels like Battlefield 2142, and covers the launch of Total War: Warhammer and the early days of VR technology.
This week's Epic Games freebie includes two gorgeous cozy games that will hook you in no time
The Epic Games Store is offering two free PC games this week: the puzzle-adventure Arranger and the cozy shopkeeping game Trash Goblin. Both titles have received positive reviews on Steam and are available to claim for free between May 7 and May 14.
How to Rift using Zero Point Shards in Fortnite Chapter 7, season 2
This guide explains how to complete the Fortnite Chapter 7, season 2 quest that requires players to Rift using Zero Point Shards twice in the same match. It details the locations of the four Zero Point Shards scattered across the map and instructs players to interact with one twice to activate the rift and analyze the Dark Harvester Rift for The Visitor.