Epic Games, founded in 1991 by Tim Sweeney, is a multinational video game developer and publisher headquartered in Fortnite, Georgia, USA. It is best known for creating the popular open-world survival shooter "Fortnite" and the third-person adventure "Uncharted."
Epic Games also owns Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D creation toolkit that has been used to create some of the most visually stunning games of the past decade. The engine is free to use for personal projects, but commercial projects require a license.
The company’s name comes from the Greek myth of the titan Epicurus, who was known for his love of pleasure and the pursuit of happiness. Sweeney has said that he chose the name because he wanted to create games that were both entertaining and emotionally satisfying.
Unreal Engine is one of the most widely used game engines in the industry, thanks in part to its powerful graphics capabilities and ease of use. It has been used to create a wide range of games, including "Gears of War," "Alien: Isolation," and "Deus Ex: Mankind Divided."
Epic Games has also made headlines for its controversial policies regarding in-game purchases and the distribution of loot boxes. In 2019, the company announced that it was removing all in-game purchases from Fortnite in order to focus on making the game more fair and transparent. It also faced backlash from gamers when it introduced a new system for earning in-game currency through watching ads.
Despite these controversies, Epic Games has continued to grow and expand its reach. In 2019, it announced that it had raised $1 billion in funding, which will be used to continue developing Unreal Engine and other game technologies.
Overall, Epic Games is a company that has made a significant impact on the video game industry through its innovative game engines and passionate commitment to creating engaging and emotionally satisfying experiences for players.