'Our Industry is Rotting' as AI Pushes Developers to Break Free from Unity and Unreal Engines

DayZ creator Dean Hall has expressed concerns about the state of the gaming industry. Officials stated that it's experiencing a decline from its core, affecting every aspect of the industry.

Hall, who has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Unity and Unreal Engines, has announced a new, open-source game engine alternative called Brutal, which he believes will provide developers with a more independent solution.

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Hall has been critical of Unity and Unreal Engines, citing their failure to be accountable to developers. He believes that these established engines are pushing developers to extract more revenue from them, often through restrictive licensing and royalties. Hall's concern is that as developers become increasingly reliant on these engines, they will lose their independence and autonomy.

Brutal, on the other hand, is an open-source C# framework that can be used to create games or build custom game engines. The new engine is free to use, including in commercial games, and does not come with royalties or revenue-sharing agreements. Hall emphasizes the importance of proper attribution.

Requiring developers to include the copyright notice in credits. Show the Brutal logo on startup, and include the Brutal notice in project files.

RocketWerkz's upcoming game Kitten Space Agency is already utilizing Brutal. And Ludeon Studios, which reworked the engine for RimWorld, has transitioned to the Waylith Engine, which provides improved performance. Felipe Falanghe, creator of Kerbal Space Program, has also used Brutal to make his next game, citing the framework's ability to provide a fresh start in game development.

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According to Hall, the transition to Brutal has allowed developers to regain control over their projects, providing a more independent solution. Hall's experience with KSP, where he had to battle to regain rights to the game, has given him a deeper understanding of the importance of developer autonomy.

Hall emphasizes the importance of developer independence, stating that "you are only as independent as your tools are." He encourages developers to use Brutal, which is available for free, including in commercial games, and to prioritize proper attribution and transparency in their projects.