For many years, Unity and Unreal have been the dominant forces in game development, accounting for roughly 70% of the titles released on Steam in 2025. While open‑source alternatives like Godot have gained traction, most large studios still lean on proprietary solutions—Capcom’s RE Engine being a prime example—leaving Unity and Unreal firmly entrenched in the market.
Nevertheless, three seasoned industry veterans—Arjan Brussee, Sjoerd De Jong, and Michal Valient—believe there is still space for a fresh engine, and that the existing options can be improved. Their résumés read like a who's‑who of game development, featuring stints at Epic Games (the creators of Unreal), Guerrilla Games, Boss Key, and Apple. Together they have founded Immens with the ambition to challenge the status quo. In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Brussee explained that the timing feels right for a new engine.
"A few years ago this wasn’t possible," he said. "Now, with AI‑assisted programming, we can start building from the ground up again while still keeping tight control.
The result can be a fully functional system that comes together quickly." Valient, Immens’s chief technology officer, stressed that the AI they are employing is not the typical "prompt‑to‑output" variety that dominates headlines. "Our AI is about making the engine itself highly extensible," he noted. "Because AI can reason over large codebases, we can design the core so that even solo developers or very small teams can plug in custom features—like a bespoke particle system—without being confined to a limited scripting layer.
The goal is to let users harness AI to extend the engine faster and more naturally." The motivation behind this AI‑powered engine stems from the current pressures on the games market, which Brussee describes as "rough." Development costs keep climbing, making it harder for studios to break even. "We need new ways of working that lower expenses and let smaller teams deliver quality titles faster," he said. "If we can reduce risk for creators and their studios, we can keep the medium vibrant." De Jong, Immens’s chief product officer, observed that the engine landscape has become increasingly standardized and consolidated. While that has provided a solid foundation, he argues the industry now needs genuine innovation rather than more of the same.
"Continuing to do what we’ve always done won’t solve the challenges we face," he said. "We need a different approach." One of De Jong’s criticisms of existing engines is their monolithic nature.
Developers must adapt to rigid, proprietary file formats and workflows. With AI, Immens aims to flip that script, delivering an engine that molds itself to the developer’s needs. "Flexibility is key," he explained.
"You should be able to swap components, append new ones, modify existing systems, and build tools that match your personal workflow—down to the shortcuts, UI layout, and feature set you require." Valient acknowledges AI’s power but also its volatility. "AI is incredibly capable, yet it can go off the rails if you’re not vigilant," he warned.
To keep users in the driver’s seat, Immens records every action the engine takes, offering full transparency and repeatability. This audit trail lets developers understand exactly how a tool arrived at a result, enabling them to create disposable, highly specific utilities—like a script that generates five characters with a particular trait in minutes rather than weeks. Immens’s architecture deliberately avoids imposing a single workflow.
De Jong says the framework is built so that teams can decide how much AI to incorporate and where to apply it. "We provide the scaffolding; you choose the construction method," he said.
"The AI must understand the context correctly, but the ultimate control stays with the user." Open standards also play a central role in Immens’s design. By relying on text‑based file formats, the engine can interoperate with a wide range of tools such as Blender, Maya, or other generative pipelines.
"When files are readable as plain text, any AI can parse and manipulate them," Brussee explained. "This openness lets us plug in external software seamlessly, something many proprietary engines have struggled with." The broader conversation around AI in game development is heated. Some commentators predict a future where entire GTA‑scale experiences can be conjured with a single prompt, sparking fears of a "click‑to‑game" era. Immens’s team, however, views AI as a powerful assistant rather than a replacement.
Valient believes AI will elevate the quality of both blockbuster and indie projects by making creators more capable. "AI is a tool that can improve everyone’s output," he said, acknowledging the current negative perception but emphasizing responsible use. De Jong adds that, like any technology, AI can be misused, but the industry has a duty to harness it productively. "Every tool humanity invents can be wielded for good or ill," he remarked.
"Our responsibility is to guide its application toward positive outcomes." Economic concerns also surface, with many questioning whether AI‑centric startups are part of a speculative bubble. Valient draws a parallel to the dot‑com era: the internet didn’t disappear after the bubble burst; only the weaker companies fell away. "We’re focused on building a solid engine; AI simply accelerates our development and expands our imagination," he said.
"Whether this is a bubble is unknown, but history shows valuable technologies survive." Immens has yet to disclose specific funding details, though the founders mention having secured "first commitments" and that the amount sought is "reasonable." Brussee cautions against over‑funding, noting that excess capital can breed complacency. "Startups need to stay scrappy," he laughed.
The team remains intentionally small—just the three founders and a handful of helpers. De Jong explains that creating a sophisticated engine isn’t a task for a massive workforce; a focused, agile group can make more deliberate decisions. At the same time, timing is critical. "We have a window of opportunity as AI reshapes the industry," he said.
"We must balance having enough resources to seize that moment without diluting our efficiency." Currently, Immens is working on a proof‑of‑concept demo that showcases a generative‑AI‑driven editing workflow, slated for release this month. Brussee notes that the project, which began in April, is already progressing twice as fast as initially projected.
"Predicting timelines is tricky when the technology moves this quickly," he admitted. Regarding the business model, Immens appreciates Epic’s "we succeed when you succeed" licensing philosophy but admits it’s too early to commit to a specific approach. Ultimately, Brussee hopes the engine will enable creators to push the medium forward. "We love games and want to see more daring, artistic expression," he concluded.
"If our technology helps developers take bigger creative risks, that would be amazing."