Am I cynical? The recent changes in Unreal 4 make me think the company is in extremely serious trouble. It's because they aren't addressing the key reason people buy a graphics engine (viz graphics), but all this ancilliary stuff. While it is important, it's off center...
But maybe they are just trying to fend off Unity (open source, a more coherent experience). Usually when companies do this, it's too late. I've no idea if that's the case here.
Digital had bumper profits just before they went under - it's typical, as they go upmarket, to get greater profits. But I'll accept that you get what I'm saying. :)
Another data point: id was killing it (and, to us, Carmack remains undisputed). But they completely lost out the next generation, to Unreal, because of vehicles. I don't think that'll happen here, just disclaimin' past performance is no guarantee of future success.
Though, to be fair, the Quake engine underlied Call of Duty, the most successful franchise (I believe), and it really showed in the framerate. Note: no vehicles. And yes, past tense.
He was talking aboout the time around Unreal Tournament 2004, and at that generation, it was a big thing (kinda like waving grass was at one time).
Sorry, I don't recall which interview (and it would be hard to google unless there's a transcript). It might have been one of his keynotes, perhaps the one with Rage on an iPhone. I'm pretty sure it was a long one (at least 1.5 hours). It was one of the big popular videos on HN/r/programming (not an esoteric one).
But maybe they are just trying to fend off Unity (open source, a more coherent experience). Usually when companies do this, it's too late. I've no idea if that's the case here.