Epic Games, Inc.

Moby ID: 154

AKA +
  • Epic MegaGames, Inc. (from 1991 to 1999)
  • Potomac Computer Systems (from 1991 to 1991)

Overview edit · view history

Epic Games is a company started as Potomac Computer Systems in 1991 by Tim Sweeney in Rockville, Maryland (US). The same year the name was changed to Epic MegaGames, Inc. and the company became a world leader in developing and publishing shareware games. Epic's best-known creations include Epic Pinball, Jazz Jackrabbit, One Must Fall 2097 and Jill of the Jungle.

The biggest change for the company came in 1998 when the first-person shooter Unreal was released. It was the start of the Unreal series of shooters that ran until 2017. At the same time, the company started licensing the engine powering the games, various iterations of the Unreal Engine, used in a large range of titles. It put the company on the map next to id Software, Inc. as one of the most prominent engine development studios. In 1999, the studio received its current name, Epic Games, Inc.

In September 2006, the establishment of Epic Games China, Ltd. was announced. Based in Shanghai, it was set up to provide low-cost game asset outsourcing to both Epic and third parties. The studio currently goes by the name Yingpei Games.

In June 2012, the China-based Tencent Holdings Limited announced to have acquired a minority stake of 10% in the company. In September 2012 the establishment of a new Epic studio in Seattle was announced to work on the fourth version of the Unreal Engine.

Also in June 2012, the studio formed Epic Baltimore, later renamed Impossible Studios. The division was closed in February 2013.

The company released Fortnite in July 2017. After it became a cultural phenomenon, development of other games such as the Unreal Tournament reboot was abandoned, with all teams working on Fortnite, Unreal Engine or other services for external companies. On 6 December 2018, the company released the Epic Games Store as a competitor to other PC game storefronts.

Developed engines

Known subsidiaries

Names in italics used to be subsidiaries, but no longer are as they were closed or sold off.

Credited on 3,524 Games from 1991 to 2024

Displaying most recent · View all

Outcast: A New Beginning (2024 on Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series)
Tokyo School Girl (2024 on Windows)
Project Element (2024 on Windows)
Tribes III: Rivals (2024 on Windows)
Hellbreach: Vegas (2024 on Windows)
United Penguin Kingdom (2024 on Windows)
Egg RTX (2024 on Windows)
Hentai Girls: Sexy Feet Goddesses (2024 on Windows)
The Thaumaturge (2024 on Windows)
We Are Football 2024: Footballmanager (2024 on Windows)
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (2024 on PlayStation 5)
Robin Hood: Sherwood Builders (2024 on Windows)
Terror at Oakheart (2024 on Windows)
Pacific Drive (2024 on Windows, PlayStation 5)
Pacific Drive: Deluxe Edition (2024 on Windows, PlayStation 5)
Myth of Empires (2024 on Windows)
Ruff Ghanor (2024 on Windows, Windows Apps, PlayStation 4...)
Lazaret (2024 on Windows)
Nightingale (2024 on Windows)
qomp2 (2024 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...)

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History +

September 28, 2023

Layoffs affect 870 employees (16% of the workforce) throughout the company and its subsidiaries.

January 24, 2023

Company discontinues servers for the Unreal series, several early Rock Band titles, 1000 Tiny Claws, Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess, and Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars.

December 23, 2022

The company delisted all Unreal games from GOG.com.

December 19, 2022

Epic reaches a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to pay a $275 million penalty for violating the children’s privacy law (COPPA), change its default privacy settings, and pay $245 million in refunds for tricking users into making unwanted charges on Fortnite.

December 14, 2022

The company delisted the entire Unreal franchise from Steam and console storefronts, as well as the unfinished Unreal Tournament (2014) from the Epic Games Store.

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Trivia +

Company location and contact information (2008):

Epic Games Inc.

620 Crossroads Blvd.

Cary, North Carolina 27518

Company email: [email protected]

Related Web Sites +

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