Guerrilla Games co-founder builds European rival to Unreal Engine

Arjan Brussee, co-founder of Guerrilla Games and former Epic Games technical director, is developing The Immense Engine, according to a Dutch podcast interview. The new game engine aims to be a fully European alternative to dominant American engines like Unreal and Unity, with deep AI integration and compliance with European regulations. Brussee claims no one currently makes an engine that is 'fully European-hosted, built by Europeans, and complies with European rules and guidelines'.

Industry veteran takes on engine giants

According to Brussee, who spoke on Dutch podcast De Technoloog, The Immense Engine represents a strategic shift away from American and Chinese-dominated game development tools. The veteran developer programmed Epic's Jazz Jackrabbit games in the 1990s before co-founding Guerrilla Games in 2003 and later serving as global Director of product management for Unreal Engine at Epic Games for eight years.

The European focus isn't just geographical positioning — Brussee sees regulatory and strategic advantages. 'Creating usable 3D worlds is becoming increasingly important, certainly for purposes other than just gaming,' he told the podcast. By maintaining European compliance, The Immense Engine could serve defence and logistics sectors requiring strict data sovereignty.

The timing coincides with broader industry discussions about AI integration in game development, as major publishers explore how artificial intelligence can streamline production pipelines.

What makes The Immense Engine different

Brussee's engine promises to break from traditional development paradigms that rely on menu-driven interfaces. According to the developer, current engines like Unreal 'were made for and by people who have to click through a menu with a mouse. If you want to change something, it has to be done for the entire engine.'

The Immense Engine will feature what Brussee calls 'new construction principles' with full AI integration from the ground up. 'The rise of AI means that we need to approach the development of this kind of crucial software differently,' he explained. This approach could potentially revolutionise team productivity: 'If you are smart and know how to put a good framework of AI agents to work, you can do the work of ten or fifteen people.'

The shift towards AI-powered development tools reflects broader industry trends, though specific technical details about The Immense Engine's implementation remain undisclosed.

Market opportunity and challenges

The game engine market is currently dominated by Epic's Unreal Engine and Unity Technologies' Unity engine, both American companies. Chinese engines like Cocos2d have gained traction in mobile development, but European alternatives remain scarce. Brussee's positioning as a 'European alternative' could appeal to studios and governments prioritising data sovereignty and regulatory compliance.

However, breaking into the established engine market presents significant challenges. Unreal Engine powers major franchises including Fortnite, Gears of War, and numerous AAA titles, while Unity dominates mobile and indie development. Building developer adoption requires not just technical innovation but comprehensive toolchains, documentation, and community support.

The engine's broader applications beyond gaming — in defence and logistics — suggest Brussee is targeting enterprise markets where European compliance could provide competitive advantages over American alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Immense Engine?

The Immense Engine is a new European game engine being developed by Arjan Brussee, designed as an alternative to Unreal and Unity with deep AI integration and European regulatory compliance.

Who is Arjan Brussee?

Brussee is a game industry veteran who co-founded Guerrilla Games, programmed Epic's Jazz Jackrabbit series, and served as global Director of product management for Unreal Engine at Epic Games.

What makes The Immense Engine different?

It features AI-native construction principles, European hosting and compliance, and aims to move away from traditional menu-driven development towards AI-powered workflows.

What are the potential uses for The Immense Engine?

Beyond gaming, it could serve defence and logistics sectors requiring European data sovereignty, as well as any application needing 3D world simulation capabilities.

When will The Immense Engine launch?

No launch date has been announced. Brussee has not provided a timeline for when the engine will be available to developers.

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