We’ve previously covered how Roblox has positioned itself as a dominant force in the evolving metaverse space, while other contenders—like Meta (who rebranded around the concept, only to retreat)—have scaled back their ambitions of owning expansive virtual worlds. However, another major player still has grand visions for the metaverse: Epic Games.
While Epic is no stranger to metaverse-like events (recall the virtual Travis Scott concert in Fortnite), it has taken a more deliberate step toward empowering developers with Fab, a new digital asset marketplace. Fab serves as a one-stop shop where developers can find everything from 3D models and animations to visual effects and environments, giving them the building blocks to create their own games and virtual worlds.
Although Epic Games has run multiple digital storefronts for years—like the Unreal Engine Marketplace, Sketchfab Store, Quixel, and ArtStation Marketplace—Fab unifies these offerings under one roof. It connects asset creators with developers seeking ready-made content, with Epic taking a 12% commission on sales. Items sold on Fab include assets tailored for Epic’s Unreal Engine but are also compatible with other platforms, such as Unity and even Roblox. The platform’s terms of service explicitly state that purchased assets can be used in any game engine, not just Epic’s ecosystem.
Epic’s Long-Term Metaverse Vision
Epic’s ambitions for the metaverse came into sharper focus when CEO Tim Sweeney spoke to The Verge about the future of Unreal Engine 6. He revealed that the company aims to make the next iteration of its development engine as accessible as Fortnite Creative, where thousands of users and brands build custom games and destinations without needing advanced programming skills. Epic hopes Unreal Engine 6 will offer similar ease of use, encouraging more creators to develop without technical barriers.
Since not all developers will have the time or resources to create custom assets from scratch, Fab is designed to fill that gap. It will serve as a vast marketplace where developers can find everything they need to bring their ideas to life, speeding up production and reducing costs.
Epic also plans to simplify cross-platform development with Unreal Engine 6. According to Sweeney, developers will be able to build an app once and deploy it across multiple platforms with minimal effort, a process that currently requires significant work. With Fab, Epic aims to provide the necessary assets for these cross-platform projects, creating a seamless flow of content between platforms.
Why Open Up Fab Beyond Epic’s Ecosystem?
Some might wonder why Epic would create a marketplace that allows developers to buy assets for use outside of its proprietary systems. The answer lies in Epic’s long-term strategy: if it can establish Fab as the go-to marketplace for metaverse assets, it stands to profit whether or not developers use Unreal Engine. By becoming the leading hub for virtual assets, Epic ensures it stays relevant—and profitable—even if developers choose to build in environments like Roblox, Minecraft, or Unity.
As Saxs Persson, Epic’s EVP, explained to The Verge, “There’s no reason we couldn’t have a federated system where people move between Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite.” He emphasized that such interconnectivity would be ideal, as it would keep users engaged and allow the best platforms to thrive.
Considering that Roblox pays out hundreds of millions to creators selling digital assets, it’s easy to see why Epic is betting big on Fab. By capturing a significant share of the asset market, Epic hopes to secure a lucrative role in the metaverse’s future—no matter which platform ends up on top.
Source: https://www.tubefilter.com/2024/10/23/epic-games-metaverse-fab-asset-store-game-developers/
While Epic is no stranger to metaverse-like events (recall the virtual Travis Scott concert in Fortnite), it has taken a more deliberate step toward empowering developers with Fab, a new digital asset marketplace. Fab serves as a one-stop shop where developers can find everything from 3D models and animations to visual effects and environments, giving them the building blocks to create their own games and virtual worlds.
Although Epic Games has run multiple digital storefronts for years—like the Unreal Engine Marketplace, Sketchfab Store, Quixel, and ArtStation Marketplace—Fab unifies these offerings under one roof. It connects asset creators with developers seeking ready-made content, with Epic taking a 12% commission on sales. Items sold on Fab include assets tailored for Epic’s Unreal Engine but are also compatible with other platforms, such as Unity and even Roblox. The platform’s terms of service explicitly state that purchased assets can be used in any game engine, not just Epic’s ecosystem.
Epic’s Long-Term Metaverse Vision
Epic’s ambitions for the metaverse came into sharper focus when CEO Tim Sweeney spoke to The Verge about the future of Unreal Engine 6. He revealed that the company aims to make the next iteration of its development engine as accessible as Fortnite Creative, where thousands of users and brands build custom games and destinations without needing advanced programming skills. Epic hopes Unreal Engine 6 will offer similar ease of use, encouraging more creators to develop without technical barriers.
Since not all developers will have the time or resources to create custom assets from scratch, Fab is designed to fill that gap. It will serve as a vast marketplace where developers can find everything they need to bring their ideas to life, speeding up production and reducing costs.
Epic also plans to simplify cross-platform development with Unreal Engine 6. According to Sweeney, developers will be able to build an app once and deploy it across multiple platforms with minimal effort, a process that currently requires significant work. With Fab, Epic aims to provide the necessary assets for these cross-platform projects, creating a seamless flow of content between platforms.
Why Open Up Fab Beyond Epic’s Ecosystem?
Some might wonder why Epic would create a marketplace that allows developers to buy assets for use outside of its proprietary systems. The answer lies in Epic’s long-term strategy: if it can establish Fab as the go-to marketplace for metaverse assets, it stands to profit whether or not developers use Unreal Engine. By becoming the leading hub for virtual assets, Epic ensures it stays relevant—and profitable—even if developers choose to build in environments like Roblox, Minecraft, or Unity.
As Saxs Persson, Epic’s EVP, explained to The Verge, “There’s no reason we couldn’t have a federated system where people move between Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite.” He emphasized that such interconnectivity would be ideal, as it would keep users engaged and allow the best platforms to thrive.
Considering that Roblox pays out hundreds of millions to creators selling digital assets, it’s easy to see why Epic is betting big on Fab. By capturing a significant share of the asset market, Epic hopes to secure a lucrative role in the metaverse’s future—no matter which platform ends up on top.
Source: https://www.tubefilter.com/2024/10/23/epic-games-metaverse-fab-asset-store-game-developers/
