Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney has revealed his vision for Unreal Engine 6, a groundbreaking tool that will enable the creation of an interoperable metaverse and open the door to digital assets in the gaming universe.
Epic Games, one of the leading video game companies, is on its way to revolutionizing the industry with its upcoming game engine, Unreal Engine 6.
Founder and CEO Tim Sweeney has shared his vision on how this new version of the engine, which may not be available until 2030, will be fundamental to the development of next-generation metaverse tools.
In a recent interview with The Verge, Sweeney explained that while Unreal Engine 6 is still a long way off, the development engine will be designed with a focus on allowing game developers to create apps that can be deployed as a standalone game on any platform.
According to Sweeney, the innovation that Unreal Engine 6 will bring, which will be a merger of Unreal Engine and Unreal Editor, will transform the way developers interact with digital content and how players experience video games.
Unreal Engine 6 will be the foundation of an interoperable metaverse
Sweeney stressed that Unreal Engine 6 will not only be a development tool, but will also serve as the foundation for an interoperable gaming universe. This concept implies that digital assets and gaming experiences will be able to move freely between different platforms and games, creating a cohesive ecosystem where players can interact without restrictions.
Interoperability is a crucial element for the success of the metaverse, as it will allow users to carry their digital assets, such as characters and items, from one game to another, thereby increasing trust and engagement within the gaming community.
In his vision, Sweeney envisions an environment where game developers, from major studios to independent creators, can leverage new technology to deliver richer, more varied experiences to players. The ability to use a single application across multiple platforms will not only simplify the development process, but will also allow players to enjoy their experiences in the environment they prefer. This flexibility will be essential to attracting a broader audience and fostering a more active gaming community, explained.
“Developers will be able to deploy the work they do in Fortnite or other games that choose to use this technological foundation, which would allow for interoperable content.”, Sweeney said.
The future of digital assets in the Epic Games universe
In addition to its focus on interoperability, Epic Games also has ambitious plans to open the doors to digital assets within its gaming universe.
The Verge mentioned a past interview with Sweeney in which he emphasized the development of Fab, a marketplace that will allow content creators to buy and sell digital assets that can be used in a variety of games, including Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft. It is an open market platform that will not only benefit developers, but will also offer players a wide range of options to customize their gaming experiences.
The idea behind Fab is to facilitate the creation and sharing of digital assets that are compatible across different platforms. This way, a user could acquire a set of graphical elements that can be used in multiple games, optimized for each of them. This ability to offer a single asset in multiple formats is an important step towards creating a truly interoperable metaverse, where players can enjoy a seamless and frictionless experience.
“Fab will be an open marketplace, offering content for a wide range of tools, game engines, and metaverse platforms, not just Unreal Engine and Fortnite”, the company explained.
Epic Games is committed to creating an ecosystem where players and developers can thrive. Sweeney also noted that the interoperable economy will allow players to trust that their investments in digital assets will be valid in the future, thus encouraging greater spending in the digital environment.
A digital ecosystem without borders
Sweeney and Epic Games’ ambition to build an interoperable and accessible metaverse is a reflection of the evolution of the gaming industry. As players seek more connected and meaningful experiences, companies are increasingly seeing the need to build tools that facilitate this connection and meet these demands.
According to Sweeney, Epic Games is not only interested in developing a new, more powerful game engine, but also in laying the groundwork for the future of digital entertainment.
With the promise of a metaverse where players can seamlessly interact and share their experiences, the company is positioning itself to lead the way into a new era where the lines between gaming, content creation, and the digital economy blur.
