Former Epic Games Veteran Develops European Alternative to Unreal Engine

• May 10, 2026

Arjan Brussee, known for his foundational roles in the video game industry including co-founding Guerrilla Games and contributing to the famous 1990s series Jazz Jackrabbit, is now leading the development of Immense Engine, a new gaming engine intended to serve as a European alternative to the widely used Unreal Engine.

Brussee, who spent multiple decades working at Epic Games—the company behind Unreal Engine—is leveraging his extensive experience to create a game development platform that is entirely based and operated in Europe. This initiative aims to offer game developers a fully European ecosystem, ensuring compliance with regional laws and standards.

Creating a European Game Development Platform

The Immense Engine project emerges against a backdrop of increasing interest in localized technology solutions within Europe. By situating the project firmly within European jurisdiction, Brussee envisions a tool that addresses developers’ concerns about data sovereignty, legal frameworks, and technological independence.

While the Unreal Engine has been a dominant force in the gaming industry for years, Immense Engine aspires to provide an alternative architecture that caters specifically to European markets and regulations. This development may appeal to studios and developers seeking to align their work with Europe’s regulatory environment without relying on major American technology providers.

Details about the technological features, capabilities, or plans for commercial deployment of Immense Engine remain limited. However, the involvement of Brussee, known for his deep expertise in game engine technology and his role in pioneering studios, suggests a significant ambition behind this new project.

As the gaming industry continues to expand globally, regional alternatives like Immense Engine highlight the ongoing evolution of development tools tailored to diverse markets. The coming years will reveal how this new engine will position itself amidst established platforms and whether it will gain traction among European and international developers.

Arjan Brussee, co-founder of Guerrilla Games, creates Immense Engine as a Europe-based alternative to the Unreal Engine.