Unreal Engine is a popular game development software used by developers worldwide. It was created in 1998 by Epic Games, an American video game company based in Cary, North Carolina. In this article, we will explore the ownership structure of Unreal Engine and its parent company, Epic Games.
Epic Games Ownership Structure
Epic Games was founded in 1993 by Tim Sweeney. The company is privately held by Sweeney and his family members. Sweeney currently serves as CEO and president of the company.
In 2015, Epic Games raised $80 million in funding from investors, including Samsung Ventures, Intel Capital, and Microsoft. This investment was used to develop new technologies for Unreal Engine, such as real-time ray tracing and virtual production tools.
Unreal Engine Licensing Model
Unreal Engine is available to developers under a licensing model. The software can be purchased through Epic Games’ online store or through authorized resellers. There are several different license options available, including:
-
Personal License: This license is for individual developers and students and includes the latest version of Unreal Engine.
-
Professional License: This license is for commercial use by small teams or companies and includes additional features such as source code access and priority technical support.
-
Enterprise License: This license is for large enterprises with complex development requirements and includes customized support and services.
Epic Games also offers a free version of Unreal Engine, called Unreal Engine 4 Express, which is limited in functionality but allows developers to experiment with the software and learn its features.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Unreal Engine is owned by Epic Games, a private company founded in 1993 by Tim Sweeney. Epic Games raises funding from investors to develop new technologies for Unreal Engine and licenses the software to developers under a licensing model.