Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney Envisions a Genuine Metaverse

Epic Games has unveiled its vision for the metaverse, featuring a unified marketplace called Fab, new Metahumans animation tools, and an open economy for its Unreal Editor for Fortnite. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz at GDC 2023, CEO Tim Sweeney stressed the importance of an open ecosystem, stating that the metaverse cannot be a 'walled garden' and must be accessible to all. Sweeney believes that the games industry is the ideal place for an open system, given the presence of multiple strong console companies and publishers. He envisions a future where Epic competes to be a leading service provider in various areas, including engine space, server hosting, and asset marketplaces. Sweeney also expressed concerns about Apple's potential attempts to dominate or stifle the metaverse, emphasizing the need for robust antitrust laws to prevent this. He noted that Epic is focused on building an open environment where companies can succeed on their merits, and that the metaverse is a genuine trend with exponential growth potential.