Epic Introduces Unified Fab Marketplace Amid Artist and Developer Backlash

Epic Games has launched Fab, a unified marketplace that brings together the company's various stores for 3D models and development assets. The new platform combines the offerings of Unreal Engine Marketplace, Sketchfab Store, and Quixel, with plans to integrate ArtStation's marketplace in 2025. However, the launch has been met with confusion and outrage from developers, particularly those in the Sketchfab community, who are concerned about the potential removal of over a decade's worth of creations. Epic has assured that it will not delete any content, and that the bulk of the Sketchfab website will remain untouched. The company has also announced that it will continue to support and invest in the Sketchfab platform, which has become an essential resource for artists, museums, and universities to share and host digital collections of 3D models. Despite the assurances, some developers have started a petition to preserve the Sketchfab site, citing concerns that the changes will result in the loss of valuable content. Epic's vice president and general manager for creator marketplaces, Bill Clifford, has responded to the concerns, stating that the company has no intention of 'burning any libraries' and that preserving creators' work is paramount. He also emphasized that the unified Fab store will ultimately benefit both creators and customers, providing a single destination for discovering, sharing, buying, and selling digital assets.