Who is Epic Games?

In the world of video games, players can level up to astronomical power. The same is true in the industry itself, and no one illustrates this better than Tim Sweeney. The founder of Potomac Computer Systems released a game called ZZT to make his home-based consulting company a little extra money.

It worked. ZZT was a surprise hit, selling thousands of copies throughout the 1990s until the game was retired in 2013. (This was an incredible success back in the days when people purchased games through online bulletins and newsgroups!) Sweeney successfully pivoted Potomac from consulting to video game production — even as the company’s sole employee.

To better compete against industry giants such as id Software, Sweeney rebranded Potomac as Epic MegaGames, hoping to make the company sound bigger than it was. He also partnered with former id Software employee Mark Rein, who knew the ropes when it came to sales and marketing. It wasn’t long before Epic MegaGames lived up to its name. Within just a few years of ZZT’s launch, Sweeney had grown his fledgling consulting firm into a robust game production company with more than 20 talented employees.

By 1998, Epic MegaGames had doubled its workforce yet again. That year, they released Unreal, a 3D first-person shooter co-developed with Digital Extremes, a Canadian company. This partnership launched the Unreal series. The games’ core technology was fittingly called the Unreal Engine — a powerhouse tool for photorealistic, immersive game design. Ever the entrepreneur, Sweeney decided to start licensing the Unreal Engine to other game developers.

This was the beginning of the company’s meteoric rise. The company, now called Epic Games, is the creator of the wildly successful Fortnite, which boasts more than 350 million accounts. Meanwhile, the Unreal Engine is a staple technology across multiple industries. Epic Games headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, which is the perfect place for this truly homegrown company.

What Do They Do?

Epic Games has always embraced the entrepreneurial spirit. As founder Sweeney and new partner Rein expanded the company, they cherished the ideas of their innovative team. The company became known for hosting game mod competitions and making its best developers a core part of the team. For example, design director Cliff Bleszinski began his 20-year career at the company at the age of 17 after submitting a game design to Sweeney.

That collaborative, team-driven approach eventually led to Epic Games’ agile business style. Called Games-as-a-Service (Gras), this model makes game technology such as the Unreal Engine available to other industries. In an era when virtual experiences, simulations, and advanced modeling are in high demand, this move made Epic Games a key player on the world stage.

Of course, Epic Games still makes its own products. As the purveyor of the unique cross-platform social gaming experience, Fortnite, the company has changed the landscape of online games.

What Is Their Impact?

In 2005, Epic Games was looking for a new place to call home. The Triangle in North Carolina was an obvious choice. Not only was it affordable for their hard-working team, but also the abundant wild spaces could nurture their creativity. Being away from what Sweeney has called the game industry “groupthink” helped Epic Games innovate in their field.

North Carolina’s beautiful mountains and coastline were also major selling points for Sweeney, who contributes a large portion of his wealth to conservation efforts. He is committed to purchasing and preserving land, and he has already saved about 50,000 acres of wild forest from development.

Meanwhile, Cary, NC is benefitting nicely from Epic Games’ larger-than-life presence. The company has bought several acres to house its offices, and they plan to hire up to 2,000 new employees over the next four years. As the Triangle continues to flourish with budding companies and eco-conscious entrepreneurs, Epic Games is a powerful yet deeply connected member of the business community.

Why It Matters In ILM

In an age of emerging technologies and a thirst for innovation, companies such as Epic Games are a vibrant force in business communities. Wilmington stands to grow immensely from their presence. Thanks to its creative spirit, low cost of living, and natural appeal, Wilmington is poised to become a hub of technological progress.

Epic Games is a major contributor to that shift. Their attitudes about agile collaboration and organic growth epitomize the Triangle’s entrepreneurial potential. That emphasis on culture and connection lies at the heart of Wilmington too.

It is this philosophy that Blue Mind Coworking warmly embraces. We strive to cultivate a fantastic community of innovation and motivation, just as Epic Games has done. Their influence in the area is palpable. As the saying goes, a rising tide floats all boats! By bringing your business into Blue Mind, you can be part of the entrepreneurial vitality of this fast-growing region.

Learn more about Blue Mind here. We would love to answer any questions you may have!