The Immense Engine: A European Game Engine Challenger with Full AI Integration

When a veteran game developer with a résumé that includes co-founding Guerrilla Games and serving as technical director at Epic Games announces a new project, the industry tends to take notice. Arjan Brussee is doing just that with The Immense Engine, a work-in-progress game engine he's positioning as a distinctly European alternative to dominant US-based engines like Unreal and Unity. What sets this engine apart isn't just its origin story—it's the promise of deep generative AI integration and use cases that extend into defense simulations. Here are the key questions and answers about this bold new venture.

Who is Arjan Brussee, and why does his new engine matter?

Arjan Brussee is a veteran game developer best known as the co-founder of Guerrilla Games (maker of the Killzone and Horizon series) and as former technical director at Epic Games. His decades of experience put him at the forefront of engine development. With The Immense Engine, Brussee wants to provide a viable European alternative to the two most popular game engines: Epic's Unreal Engine (based in the US) and Unity (originally conceived in Denmark, but now US-headquartered). The engine is still under development, but its announcement has already stirred attention in both the gaming and defense sectors.

The Immense Engine: A European Game Engine Challenger with Full AI Integration — Source: www.rockpapershotgun.com

What exactly is The Immense Engine?

The Immense Engine is a new real-time 3D development platform created by Arjan Brussee. It's being built from the ground up with a focus on full generative AI integration, meaning AI tools won't be optional plugins—they'll be woven directly into the engine's core. This could allow developers to generate assets, write code snippets, or even design entire scenes using natural language prompts. Beyond gaming, the engine is also designed for the defense industry, where military organizations use game engines for simulation and training. Brussee has stated that the engine will eventually be available to game developers, but a release date has not yet been announced.

Why the name 'The Immense Engine'—is it serious or a joke?

The name The Immense Engine has an unintentionally humorous twist. In psychology, 'immense' can evoke the idea of something overwhelming, and some internet commenters have noted that the name almost sounds like a Freudian slip about the sheer size and complexity of modern game engines. Brussee seems to have leaned into this playful interpretation rather than avoided it. He acknowledged the wisecracks with good humor, which has only increased the engine's visibility. Despite the lighthearted name, the project is entirely serious, backed by Brussee's deep technical expertise and a clear vision for a European-centered, AI-first engine.

How will generative AI be integrated into The Immense Engine?

Brussee promises "full" generative AI integration—meaning AI will be a fundamental layer of the engine, not an afterthought. Developers could use AI to generate 3D models, textures, terrain, and even game logic from textual descriptions. This could drastically speed up prototyping and asset creation. For example, a designer might type "create a medieval castle with mossy stone walls" and the engine would produce a basic scene. Because the AI is built into the engine, it can also learn from the developer's project and suggest optimizations. This approach contrasts with other engines that add AI as separate plugins, potentially offering tighter performance and a more seamless workflow.

Why is the defense industry mentioned as a use case?

Game engines have long been used for defense simulations and training—the US military has used Unreal Engine for everything from flight simulators to urban combat training. Brussee is following this trend by designing The Immense Engine with defense applications in mind. This could include realistic terrain rendering, drone swarm simulations, or networked training scenarios. Offering a European alternative may appeal to EU and NATO defense contractors who want an engine not controlled by a US company. However, this dual-use nature raises ethical questions—some developers may be uncomfortable with their tools being used for warfare. Brussee has not yet detailed how he'll address these concerns.

How is The Immense Engine different from Unreal or Unity?

The main differentiators are its European origin, full generative AI integration, and explicit defense-industry support. While Unreal and Unity are now US-based and have added AI features incrementally, The Immense Engine promises AI baked into every component from the start. Additionally, Brussee's engine is designed to be a European alternative—this could be attractive to studios seeking geographic diversity in their toolchain, especially given increasing regulatory scrutiny of US tech. In terms of performance, The Immense Engine is still in early development, so concrete comparisons are premature. But if Brussee succeeds, it could offer a fresh, AI-first architecture that challenges the established giants.

When will The Immense Engine be released?

As of now, The Immense Engine is a work in progress, and no official release date has been announced. Brussee has been publicly discussing the project and showing early concepts, but he hasn't committed to a timeline. Given the complexity of building a modern game engine from scratch—especially one with deep AI integration—developers should expect a multi-year development cycle. Early access or a developer preview might come sooner, but for now, interested parties can only follow Brussee's updates and wait for more concrete milestones. The engine's eventual reception will depend on how well it delivers on its ambitious promises.

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