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Epic Games' Ambitious Metaverse Vision: Unreal Engine 6 and Interoperability
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has outlined an ambitious plan to build a truly interoperable metaverse, leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 6 and connecting major gaming platforms. This vision, detailed in an interview with The Verge, centers on creating a shared marketplace and asset ecosystem across games utilizing Unreal Engine, including Fortnite and potentially Roblox and others.
Sweeney emphasized Epic's financial strength, stating the company is well-positioned to realize this decade-long project. The core of this initiative involves integrating Unreal Engine's high-end development tools with the user-friendly Unreal Editor for Fortnite. This fusion, expected to take several years, will form the basis of Unreal Engine 6.
The resulting Unreal Engine 6 aims to empower developers, from AAA studios to indie creators, to "build an app once and deploy it across all platforms." This "build once, deploy anywhere" capability is crucial to Sweeney's vision of an interoperable metaverse with a shared technology base and content. He cited Epic's collaboration with Disney as an example of this interoperability, aiming to extend this model to other platforms. While discussions with Roblox and Microsoft haven't begun, Sweeney anticipates future collaborations.
A key aspect of this metaverse is an interoperable economy. Sweeney argues that this shared economy will increase player trust, encouraging spending on digital goods knowing they'll retain value and usability across multiple games. This contrasts with the current model where purchases are often tied to individual games.
Epic EVP Saxs Persson echoed Sweeney's vision, highlighting the benefits of a federated metaverse connecting platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite. He emphasized the importance of player connection and choice in fostering long-term engagement and enjoyment. Sweeney further clarified that the metaverse's decentralized nature mitigates the risk of single-company dominance, unlike the smartphone market.
This ambitious project represents a significant step towards a more interconnected and collaborative gaming landscape. The success of this vision hinges on the successful integration of Unreal Engine 6 and the willingness of other major players to participate in this shared ecosystem.
