In a striking move for the gaming industry, Arjan Brussee, a prominent figure with deep roots in the sector, has announced his intention to create a fully European alternative to leading game engines from American and Chinese firms. In a recent interview with the De Technoloog podcast, as reported by the Video Games Chronicle.
Brussee, hailing from the Netherlands, boasts an impressive background in the games industry. His tenure at Epic Games spanned two key periods: initially in the 90s, where he contributed to the Jazz Jackrabbit games, and again from 2018 to 2023, when he served as the global director of product management for Unreal Engine. In between, he co-founded Guerrilla Games in 2003, known for the Killzone franchise, and Boss Key Productions in 2012.
The Immense Engine: A European Alternative
Many readers are likely aware of popular game engines like Unreal and Unity (originally founded in Denmark but moved to San Francisco in 2009). Brussee is confident that a European game engine can compete with these offerings and those from China, emphasizing that The Immense Engine will be “fully European-hosted, created by Europeans, and compliant with European regulations and standards.”
Establishing a Europe-centric game engine could greatly benefit sectors such as defense or logistics using 3D simulations on the continent. By adhering to European standards, it may also find adoption in larger government and local initiatives.
Development of The Immense Engine is already in progress, with a clear emphasis on creating realistic 3D environments beyond just gaming. Recent reports indicated that local governments in Japan are using U.S.-based game engines for large-scale engineering projects, suggesting that Brussee is considering similar applications.
Integrating AI into Development
AI and software development are becoming increasingly intertwined, and Brussee is keen to leverage this trend. During the podcast discussion, he spoke about the potential of AI, highlighting how it can enhance efficiency and decrease the need for human labor.
“If you strategically implement a robust framework of AI agents, you could potentially achieve the output of ten to fifteen individuals,” Brussee observed. He is an advocate for the use of AI agents in the development of the engine, but whether The Immense Engine will incorporate AI tools remains to be clarified.
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