Unity and Unreal have long held sway over the game development landscape, accounting for roughly 70% of Steam releases in 2025. While Godot has enjoyed notable growth recently and some major studios still rely on proprietary solutions—Capcom’s RE Engine being a prime example—the market remains largely dominated by these two giants. Enter Arjan Brussee, Sjoerd De Jong, and Michal Valient, the trio behind Immens, who believe there is still space for a fresh engine and, more importantly, room for meaningful improvement. Their résumés read like a who’s‑who of the industry, featuring stints at Epic Games (the creators of Unreal), Guerrilla Games, Boss Key, and Apple.
Together, they aim to challenge the status quo. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Brussee noted that “the moment is right” to build a new engine that simply didn’t exist a few years ago. He argues that AI‑assisted programming now allows developers to start from a clean slate again, offering “guided yet flexible” tools that can bring full‑featured functionality to life quickly.
Valient, Immens’s chief technology officer, stresses that their use of AI differs from the hype‑driven “prompt‑to‑content” narrative. He explains that the AI is embedded in the engine’s architecture to make it highly extensible.
"AI can reason over massive codebases and data sets," he says. "If we design the engine with that capability in mind, even solo creators or small teams can extend it beyond simple scripting. Want a custom particle system?
Just plug it in. That’s how we’re leveraging AI—to accelerate extensions, not replace them." The motivation behind this AI‑powered engine stems from the current bleak state of the games market.
Brussee describes it as “rough,” noting that development costs keep climbing, making it harder for studios to stay afloat. He asks whether new workflows can break this cycle, allowing teams to produce games faster, with fewer people and smaller budgets, thereby reducing financial risk. De Jong, Immens’s chief product officer, observes that the engine space has become standardized and consolidated, providing a solid foundation but also stifling innovation. “We’re at a point where the industry faces multiple challenges, and simply repeating past methods won’t cut it,” he says.
“We need innovation, not more standardization.” One of De Jong’s criticisms of existing engines is their monolithic nature. Developers must conform to proprietary file formats and rigid pipelines. With AI, however, the engine can adapt to the developer’s needs. He envisions a system where users can swap components, append new features, and craft bespoke tools tailored to their workflow—complete with personalized shortcuts, interfaces, and functionality.
Valient acknowledges AI’s power but also its volatility. "If you don’t monitor it, it can go off the rails quickly," he warns. Immens is therefore built to keep the user in control, with transparent histories of AI actions, ensuring repeatable and auditable results.
He gives an example: creating five characters with a specific trait used to take weeks of planning; now, a developer could sketch the idea over coffee, generate the assets, use the tool a handful of times, and discard it—dramatically cutting cost. Flexibility is baked into Immens’s design.
De Jong stresses that the engine does not impose a single workflow. Users decide how much AI to incorporate and where, provided the AI can correctly interpret the tasks. The architecture is deliberately open, allowing developers to choose their preferred balance between manual control and automated assistance. Interoperability is another cornerstone.
Brussee points out that when files are stored in text‑based, open formats, any tool can read them. This opens the door for seamless integration with software like Blender, Maya, or other generative tools. He notes that many engines remain closed off, hindering collaboration, whereas Immens aims to embrace open standards so that different programs can “talk” to each other effortlessly. The gaming community is divided on AI.
Some commentators on LinkedIn hype the idea of “click‑to‑game” engines that could produce Grand Theft Auto‑scale experiences from a single prompt. Immens’s team acknowledges that such a future might be possible, but they view AI primarily as a powerful tool rather than a magical shortcut.
Valient believes AI will make developers better, even if current perceptions are negative due to the disruptive scale. De Jong adds a responsible perspective: AI, like any technology, can be misused, but it also offers unprecedented productivity. The industry must figure out how to harness it ethically. Economic anxieties also surface, with concerns about an AI bubble inflating valuations.
Valient compares it to the dot‑com era, noting that while many companies will fail, the underlying technology will endure. "We’re focused on building a solid engine; AI simply accelerates our vision," he says. Funding remains modest. Immens has secured its first commitments but has not disclosed amounts, describing them as “reasonable.” Brussee cautions against over‑funding, which can breed complacency.
The team prefers to stay lean—just the three founders and a handful of helpers—to maintain agility and focus. Scaling an engine is a complex undertaking; you can’t simply throw a million developers at it. De Jong explains the need for a small, dedicated team that can make thoughtful decisions over time, while also seizing the current window of opportunity created by AI advancements. The balance between resources and speed is a central strategic challenge.
Immens is currently developing 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, making timeline predictions difficult. The business model is still under discussion.
While Immens admires Epic’s “we succeed when you succeed” licensing approach, they consider it premature to commit to any specific model. Ultimately, Brussee hopes Immens will enable creators to push the medium forward, fostering more creativity, risk‑taking, and artistic expression.
"We love games and want to see the industry innovate. If our technology helps make that happen, that would be amazing," he concludes.