Arjan Brussee Challenges Unreal Engine with Ambitious European Project

A European Challenge for Arjan Brussee

Arjan Brussee, co-founder of Guerrilla Games, known for iconic titles such as Killzone and Horizon Forbidden West, is embarking on a new ambitious adventure. After spending several years at EA Games and then at Epic, he now aims to develop a European 3D engine capable of competing with Unreal Engine. This project, dubbed Immense Engine, seeks to provide a credible alternative to one of the most popular graphics engines in the world.

Digital Sovereignty in Focus

For Brussee, the stakes go beyond the realm of video games. He believes that 3D environments are now crucial for strategic sectors such as defense, logistics, industrial simulations, and cinema. Currently, these fields largely depend on American solutions like Unreal Engine and Unity. Even Godot, the renowned open-source engine, finds itself indirectly in the crosshairs of the Dutch developer. Brussee thus aims to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty by creating a local solution capable of competing in this market.

Artificial Intelligence as an Ally

In this endeavor, artificial intelligence plays a central role. Brussee is convinced that a small team effectively utilizing AI agents could accomplish the work of several dozen developers. This approach could help overcome the challenges posed by well-established competitors like Epic Games, whose Unreal Engine is used by approximately 850,000 people worldwide.

A Rocky Road Ahead

Despite the enthusiasm and technological innovations, Brussee acknowledges that creating a serious competitor to Unreal Engine is a daunting task. Epic Games' engine benefits from many years of development, large teams, and a well-established ecosystem. The idea is not necessarily to directly attack Unreal Engine and Unity, but to create a European solution capable of existing in a market dominated by American players. Even with the support of AI, the road to success promises to be long and complex.