Line #61 Creator/EpicGames


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/516px_epic_games_logosvg.png]]
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3	[[http://epicgames.com Epic Games]] is a game developer and publisher, best known for ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'', ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'', ''VideoGame/{{Bulletstorm}}'', and ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'', as well as its most widespread technology, the MediaNotes/UnrealEngine.
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5	They started in 1991 as Potomac Computer Systems, and their first game ever, ''VideoGame/{{ZZT}}'', was developed using Turbo Pascal. The studio would later be recognized as Epic Megagames, and shortly before the launch of the first ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'', the company would rename itself as simply Epic Games.
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7	The company currently maintains two of it's own freely downloadable [[MediaNotes/GameEngine Game Engines]]; Unreal Engine 4 and 5, with [=UDK=] (Unreal Development Kit, or Unreal Engine 3 as it was commonly called) having deprecated support. Unreal Engine 4 was praised for its cross-platform capabilities, the gorgeous visuals it could render, as well as being very easy to work with with it's "blueprints" system, making game logic easier for developers to work with, rivalling that of MediaNotes/{{Unity}} when it came to making development easier for developers of all stripes. It has subsequently been used as the basis for a lot of PC games ever since its release in 2014, with ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament4'', the ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy'', as well as the ''[[VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans2020 Destroy All Humans]]'' remake being some of the more prominent examples. It is also used in animation too; ''WesternAnimation/{{Zafari}}'' for example, uses the engine to create its show to great effect.
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9	In late 2018, Epic announced that in addition to their existing repertoire of game development, publishing and technology, they would also be expanding into the realm of game distribution with the launch of the Platform/EpicGamesStore, a UsefulNotes/DigitalDistribution platform that competes with Valve's Platform/{{Steam}} service, EA's [[Creator/ElectronicArts Origin]], and CD Projekt's [[Website/GogDotCom GOG]] DRM Free store.
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11	In 2024, Creator/{{Disney}} announced a strategic partnership with Epic Games. As a result, Disney would take an equity stake in the company. It plans to launch an expansive games and entertainment universe connecting ''Fortnite'' to various characters and IP from across the Disney brand.
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14	!! The pre-''Unreal'' years:
15	[[index]]
16	* ''VideoGame/{{ZZT}}''
17	** ''Super ZZT''
18	* ''Palace of Deceit: The Dragon's Plight''
19	* ''VideoGame/CastleOfTheWinds''
20	* ''VideoGame/JazzJackrabbit''
21	** ''Jazz Jackrabbit 2''
22	** ''Jazz Jackrabbit Advance''
23	* ''VideoGame/JillOfTheJungle''
24	** ''Jill Goes Underground''
25	** ''Jill Saves The Prince''
26	* ''VideoGame/KensLabyrinth''
27	* ''VideoGame/{{Zone 66}}''
28	* ''Jason Storm in Space Chase''
29	* ''VideoGame/{{Xargon}}'' series
30	* ''VideoGame/DareToDream''
31	* ''VideoGame/TrafficDepartment2192''
32	* ''VideoGame/SolarWinds''
33	** ''Solar Winds 2''
34	* ''VideoGame/{{Heartlight}}''
35	** ''Heartlight Deluxe''
36	* ''VideoGame/{{Silverball}}''
37	** ''Silverball Plus 2''
38	* ''VideoGame/HighwayHunter''
39	* ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfRobbo''
40	* ''VideoGame/EpicPinball''
41	** ''VideoGame/ExtremePinball''
42	* ''Epic Connect''
43	* ''Epic Checkers''
44	* ''Epic Hoppers''
45	* ''VideoGame/FireFight'' (co-developed with with Chaos Works)
46	* ''VideoGame/AgeOfWonders''
47	* ''VideoGame/{{Tyrian}}''
48	* ''VideoGame/ElectroMan''
49	* ''VideoGame/OneMustFall''
50	* ''Shadow''
51	* ''VideoGame/{{Ancients 1 Deathwatch}}''
52	** ''Ancients 2: Approaching Evil''
53
54	!! ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series:
55	* [1998] ''VideoGame/{{Unreal\|I}}''
56	** [2000] ''Unreal: Return To Na Pali''
57	* [1999] ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' {co-developed with Creator/DigitalExtremes}
58	* [2001] ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'' {co-developed with Legend Entertainment}
59	* [2002] ''VideoGame/UnrealChampionship''
60	* [2002] ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2003'' {co-developed with Digital Extremes}
61	* [2004] ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004'' {co-developed with Digital Extremes, Streamline Studios & Psyonix}
62	* [2005] ''VideoGame/UnrealChampionship2TheLiandriConflict''
63	* [2007] ''VideoGame/UnrealTournamentIII''
64	* [2014/5] ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament4''
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66	!! ''Unreal Engine'' games which Epic Shanghai (上海英佩) took part in but released by other publishers:
67	* [2010] ''Global Mission TPS'' - ZY Games
68	* [2011] ''Glourious Mission'', aka ''Passion Leading Army'' - Giant Interactive
69	* [2011] ''VideoGame/{{Homefront}}'' - THQ
70	* [2012] ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' - 2K Games
71
72	!! ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' series:
73	* [2006] ''Gears Of War''
74	* [2008] ''Gears Of War II''
75	* [2011] ''Gears Of War III''
76	* [2013] ''Gears of War Judgment'' (developed by People Can Fly)
77
78	!! Other new millennium games:
79	* [2011] ''VideoGame/ShadowComplex'' (co-developed with [=ChAIR=] Entertainment)
80	* [2010] ''VideoGame/InfinityBlade'' (developed by [=ChAIR=] Entertainment)
81	* [2011] ''VideoGame/{{Bulletstorm}}'' (developed by People Can Fly)
82	* [2011] ''VideoGame/DutyCalls'' (as a playable teaser of the above, developed by People Can Fly)
83	* [2011] ''VideoGame/InfinityBladeII'' (developed by [=ChAIR=] Entertainment)
84	* [2014] ''VideoGame/InfinityBlade3'' (developed by [=ChAIR=] Entertainment)
85	* [2016] ''VideoGame/{{Paragon\|2016}}''
86	* [2017] ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}''
87	* [2017] ''VideoGame/RoboRecall''
88	* [2023] ''VideoGame/AlanWakeII'' (developed by Creator/RemedyEntertainment)
89
90	!! Other
91	* [2019-2020] ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'' (provided funding for the first two seasons)
92	[[/index]]
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94	----
95	!!Tropes related to this company:
96	* ApprovalOfGod:
97	** They did this ''four times'' for the ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series. All the released patches here have Epic's actual blessing, giving them somewhat of semi-official release status[[note]][[ScrewedByTheLawyers For legal reasons]], though, forget about seeing them on Platform/{{Steam}} or Website/GOGDotCom[[/note]]:
98	*** The first instance was allowing the ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' Preservation Group (UTPG) to release Epic-sanctioned patches, resulting in version 440-451b being released for the game.
99	*** The second instance took place in 2005, where [=OldUnreal=]'s admin Smirftsch got Epic's permission to develop patches for ''VideoGame/UnrealI'', resulting in ver. 227a-j.
100	*** Overlapping with OfficialFanSubmittedContent, the third instance took place in 2014, where the entire Unreal community got to participate in what would have been ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament4''. Sadly, due to the unforeseen success of ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'' requiring Epic's efforts to be focused on that game, few things came to pass.
101	*** The last instance took place in 2019, with the UTPG long gone, and was, once again, [=OldUnreal=] to the rescue: this time admin [=AnthraX=] managed to get Epic's blessing to release community patches for ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'', resulting in ver. 469a-b.
102	** Outside of the blessings, former lead designer Cliff Bleszinski loved [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muOLx1tPLMI the 3dsMax recreation of NyLeve's Falls]].
103	* AuthorAppeal: They seem to be very big fans of ''Film/TheFifthElement'', a possible inspiration for the [[VideoGame/GearsOfWar Gear armor, Gorgon Burst Pistol]], and [[VideoGame/{{Bulletstorm}} Peacemaker Carbine]].
104	* PromotedFanboy: So many, they have [[PromotedFanboy/EpicGames their own page]].

Context Creator / EpicGames