For years, Unity and Unreal have ruled the game‑development landscape, accounting for roughly 70% of all Steam releases projected for 2025. While open‑source alternatives like Godot have gained traction and some studios cling to proprietary solutions—Capcom’s RE Engine being a notable example—the duopoly of Unity and Unreal still dominates the market.
Enter Immens, a startup founded by three industry veterans—Arjan Brussee, Sjoerd De Jong, and Michal Valient—who believe there is still room for a fresh engine and, more importantly, for meaningful improvement. Their résumés read like a who’s‑who of game‑tech: experience at Epic Games (the creators of Unreal), Guerrilla Games, Boss Key, and even Apple. Together they aim to challenge the status quo.
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Brussee explained that the timing feels right for a new engine because “the tools that existed a couple of years ago simply aren’t enough anymore.” He argues that AI‑augmented programming now lets developers start from a clean slate while still maintaining tight guidance and control, enabling rapid delivery of full‑featured prototypes. Valient, Immens’s chief technology officer, clarifies that their use of AI is not the flashy “prompt‑to‑asset” hype that circulates on social media.
Instead, the AI is baked into the engine’s architecture to make it highly extensible. “If we design the codebase with AI reasoning in mind, even a solo developer can add a custom particle system or a bespoke gameplay mechanic without wrestling with opaque scripting layers,” he says. The goal is to let creators extend the engine quickly and safely, leveraging AI as a productivity multiplier rather than a magic wand. The motivation behind this AI‑powered engine stems from the harsh economic reality of modern game development.
Brussee describes the current climate as “rough,” noting that production costs keep climbing and smaller studios are increasingly vulnerable. “We need new ways of working that cut expenses, shrink team sizes, and accelerate timelines, so developers aren’t risking their livelihoods on massive budgets,” he asserts. De Jong, Immens’s chief product officer, points out that the engine market has become overly standardized and consolidated.
While that consolidation has provided a solid foundation, it also stifles innovation. “The industry faces a slew of challenges, and simply repeating the old playbook won’t cut it. We need fresh ideas, not more of the same,” he explains. One of De Jong’s criticisms of existing engines is their monolithic nature.
Developers must conform to proprietary file formats and rigid pipelines, which limits creativity. With AI, Immens aims to flip that dynamic, offering an engine that adapts to the developer’s workflow. “It has to be flexible—swap components, append new tools, modify interfaces.
I can build a toolset that matches my personal workflow down to the shortcuts and UI layout, and my team can do the same for their projects,” he says. Valient acknowledges AI’s power but also its volatility. “If you’re not paying attention, it can go off the rails quickly,” he warns. To mitigate this, Immens is built with transparency at its core: users can see exactly what the engine is doing, review its decision history, and ensure repeatable results.
This level of control allows developers to create temporary, purpose‑built tools—like a script that generates five characters with specific traits in minutes rather than weeks—without committing to permanent, costly pipelines. Flexibility is baked into Immens’s design philosophy.
The engine does not enforce a single workflow; developers decide how much AI to incorporate and where. De Jong emphasizes that the underlying framework and architecture are deliberately open, enabling teams to tailor the development process to their needs while still benefiting from AI assistance when appropriate.
Interoperability is another priority. By embracing open, text‑based standards, Immens can seamlessly exchange data with popular tools such as Blender, Maya, or other generative‑AI pipelines. “When files are human‑readable, any program can parse them. The AI can then manipulate those files directly, creating a smoother bridge between different software ecosystems,” Brussee explains.
This openness addresses a long‑standing pain point where many engines act as closed silos, hindering collaboration across tools. The broader AI conversation in game development is polarized. Some commentators hype “click‑to‑game” promises, suggesting that a simple prompt could spawn a Grand‑Theft‑Auto‑scale experience. Immens’s team tempers such expectations, positioning AI as a powerful tool rather than a replacement for human creativity.
Valient believes AI will elevate the entire industry: “Big titles and indie projects alike will benefit because AI makes everyone better.” He also stresses responsible usage, noting that any technology can be misused, but it is up to developers to wield it ethically. Economic concerns about an AI bubble also surface. Critics argue that inflated valuations could burst, leaving many startups stranded.
Valient draws a parallel to the dot‑com era, arguing that while many companies will fall, the underlying technology—like the internet—will endure. “We’re focused on building a solid engine; AI simply accelerates our vision and lets us dream bigger,” he says. Funding remains modest.
Immens has secured its first round of commitments but has not disclosed amounts, describing the capital as “reasonable.” Brussee cautions against over‑funding, noting that excess cash 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 development effort is a delicate balance. De Jong explains that a massive team does not guarantee success; a small, dedicated group can make more thoughtful decisions and iterate faster.
At the same time, timing is critical. The next few years present a window of opportunity as AI reshapes the industry, and Immens aims to seize that moment without over‑extending resources. Currently, Immens is racing toward a proof‑of‑concept demo that showcases a generative‑AI‑driven editing workflow, slated for release later this month. The timeline has already outpaced their original estimate—what was projected to take until year‑end is now half that time—demonstrating the speed gains they advocate.
Regarding the business model, Brussee admires Epic’s “we succeed when you succeed” philosophy but admits it’s too early to commit to a specific revenue structure. Ultimately, the founders hope Immens will enable developers to push artistic boundaries, take risks, and inject fresh innovation into games.
“We love games and want to see more daring, creative experiences. If our technology can help make that happen, it would be amazing,” Brussee concludes.