Epic CEO Tim Sweeney on the Gaming Industry’s ‘Generational Change’: ‘Many High-Budget Games Aren’t Selling’

During his keynote at Unreal Fest in Seattle, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney emphasized that while the metaverse concept remains ambiguous, Fortnite’s sustained growth proves it represents the future of gaming. Sweeney pointed to Fortnite’s recent achievements, including a peak of 110 million active users over the past holiday season, as evidence of the game’s unprecedented success. He described this as part of a “generational change” in the gaming industry.

Sweeney noted a growing trend where high-budget games fail to meet expectations while others—particularly large-scale multiplayer games like Fortnite—thrive. He believes this shift is driven by players gravitating toward games that allow them to connect and interact with more friends. According to Sweeney, the perceived value of a game increases in direct proportion to the number of friends players can engage with, whether through gaming, voice chat, virtual concerts, or other online experiences.

He acknowledged that the term “metaverse” is still a contentious concept. “Some people will call it the metaverse,” Sweeney said, but there’s no consensus on what that actually means. Some associate it with VR and AR initiatives like those from Facebook, while others use the term to critique aspects of Fortnite’s latest updates. Regardless, Sweeney insisted that Fortnite delivers something unprecedented in the entertainment world.

Sweeney attributed much of Fortnite’s ongoing success to the involvement of global brands and the game’s evolving content. From musicians to companies like Disney and Star Wars, these partnerships have created a dynamic, live entertainment experience that continuously adapts. According to Sweeney, this blend of live content and brand collaboration reflects the future of gaming.

While some remain skeptical about the metaverse, Sweeney’s points about Fortnite’s continued dominance are undeniable. Seven years after its launch, Fortnite remains a juggernaut, with significant entertainment brands still flocking to be part of it. In contrast, many high-profile, big-budget standalone games like Suicide Squad, Final Fantasy 16, Starfield, and Star Wars Outlaws have fallen short of expectations, reinforcing Sweeney’sSweeney’s view that multiplayer, interconnected experiences are increasingly what players want.