Unreal Engine 4 will, no doubt, power many next-generation video games in the coming years, including those that come out of Epic Games. The first game to use the studio’s new engine technology, however, will be the previously mysterious Fortnite.

We already knew Fortnite was influenced by Minecraft, but what was shown at a panel today in San Diego for Comic-Con sounds like a much more ambitious take on something like the Zombies mode in Call of Duty.

Epic Games is describing Fortnite as a "co-op sandbox survival game." Players spend the day building defenses and crafting items, weapons to defend against enemies at night.

At the moment, Fortnite is shipping on PC sometime in 2013, but designer Cliff Bleszinski has already said that doesn’t mean it’s a PC exclusive forever.

“Fortnite is PC primary and first, but we wouldn't rule out the possibility of other platforms later,” he said on Twitter.

Unreal Engine 4 will, no doubt, power many next-generation video games in the coming years, including those that come out of Epic Games. The first game to use the studio’s new engine technology, however, will be the previously mysterious Fortnite.

We already knew Fortnite was influenced by Minecraft, but what was shown at a panel today in San Diego for Comic-Con sounds like a much more ambitious take on something like the Zombies mode in Call of Duty.

Epic Games is describing Fortnite as a "co-op sandbox survival game." Players spend the day building defenses and crafting items, weapons to defend against enemies at night.

At the moment, Fortnite is shipping on PC sometime in 2013, but designer Cliff Bleszinski has already said that doesn’t mean it’s a PC exclusive forever.

“Fortnite is PC primary and first, but we wouldn't rule out the possibility of other platforms later,” he said on Twitter.

Woop.

Epic making a PC game? WHAT THE HELL?

Oh so they are testing the waters with their new tech before dedicating something more intensive.

Why do we need UE4 to run a game with TF2 graphics?

that art style looks pretty awesome

Bullshit, it's primary in Xbox 720 and everyone knows it.

Don't worry about the way it's touted as a PC game. The literally can't say it's in development for consoles because current gen stuff can't run UE4, and Sony and Microsoft will prohibit them from saying anything else.

Co-op? I'd rather saw off my leg with a rusty hacksaw than play co-op. Make a game for me, the core gamer, Epic! I hate how it's just expected that people have friends. Such discrimination and it goes unchecked by us lonely no-frienders. Dammit.

Cool, and awesome for it being on the PC. Glad to see EPIC return to it's roots.

@CaLe: I hope you were being sarcastic, because you actually made laugh (IRL). If not, /tipshat.

@Jace said:

Why do we need UE4 to run a game with TF2 graphics?

An engine is more than the renderer. Doesn't have to be the most visually impressive game. It's more important that developers have better tools to make their games.

@Jace: Graphics aren't the only drain on hardware. I expect the sandbox nature of the game will mean there will be a ton of objects in the world interacting with everything and everyone in crazy ways. Probably some heavy AI stuff too if there's zombies and what-not out in the world.

PC exclusive until next gen consoles are actually announced.

Sounds GREAT

Holt shit does that look like a TF2 Scout.

Wow, for a second my brain thought that sign said "Durger Burgers", which implies a whole new level of the durger phenomenon whose depths my mind can scarcely fathom.

I'm guessing it is PC first due to them using UE4 maybe 
Poor uneducated guess on my part.  
 
Epic doesn't seem to like PC anymore. They wont even sell us their old games- like they should be forgotten. Oh you can buy them, but it's really expensive and the form needs to be printed and mailed in to this address that may or may not be legit (as far as my research shows it seems legit, but just saying). 
 
Don't know why I started ranting there- I'm not even mad at Epic. I must be bored.

At least it's different from other Epic Games. I'm looking forward to this.

@Benny said:

Don't worry about the way it's touted as a PC game. The literally can't say it's in development for consoles because current gen stuff can't run UE4, and Sony and Microsoft will prohibit them from saying anything else.

What? Many developers have already stated that X game is for next-gen. You're only prohibited it you're owned by the company or you are talking about console specs. Epic's neither. Also, Epic has made PC only games in the past(to those who only know them by Gears of War)

PC exclusive? What the whaaaat? Next thing you'll be telling me is they're changing their name back to Epic Mega Games and releasing a new Jazz Jackrabbit.

God damn, that looks a lot like the Scout from TF2. I'M ON FI-YAH!

It's great Epic are putting their resources into PC, 'the choice of a new generation', IMO.

Here's to hoping it comes out for consoles not too long after PC, cause I am interested in this.

Debuting a fancy new engine in a game that uses simplified, stylized graphics almost seems like a waste. You'd think they'd want it on something ultra-realistic looking, like an Unreal Tournament or a Gears of War.

You have NO IDEA how excited I am to see a "PC first" game out of Epic. Let's hope this leads some other developers to follow, because, fuck, man.

I feel like this game could be really cool. Hopefully Epic delivers, which I am sure they will.

Man, it's going to be 2013 and we're still making paper-mache-looking trees.

@Portis said:

God damn, that looks a lot like the Scout from TF2. I'M ON FI-YAH!

Yeah, looks like they are heavily influenced (read: copying) the art design from TF2.

Oh my god! Are we finally getting new software/games that aren't artificially limited thanks to the main focus being 10 year old console hardware? The PC can finally use some of its muscle again :-D

Yeah, it's pretty impressive how TF2 'invented' this art style. Cartoony people never existed before that.

/sarcastic

Aw. Was hoping for a realistic art style in their first UE4 game. Seems like they can get away with using fewer or less intense crazy graphical effects if they go the cartoony route.
 
edit: And by "PC exclusive" they really also mean the unannounced next generation consoles.

@blacklab said:

@Portis said:

God damn, that looks a lot like the Scout from TF2. I'M ON FI-YAH!

Yeah, looks like they are heavily influenced (read: copying) the art design from TF2.

Pop a Disney movie into a VCR. It will blow your mind. This art style has existed for decades. Have you been living in a cave?

@Sooty said:

Epic making a PC game? WHAT THE HELL?

Yeah... it's a clear sign that it secretly has a 720 or PS4 as lead platform.

@Old_Corncob said:

@blacklab said:

@Portis said:

God damn, that looks a lot like the Scout from TF2. I'M ON FI-YAH!

Yeah, looks like they are heavily influenced (read: copying) the art design from TF2.

Pop a Disney movie into a VCR. It will blow your mind. This art style has existed for decades. Have you been living in a cave?

I never said that Valve invented the style...only that Epic is mimicking TF2. What, you think Epic is taking inspiration from the Little Mermaid? Sheesh, and you say I'm living in a cave.

Well it looks good but I'm a little disappointed all the same. Looks like a multiplayer shooter of some sort or another. It makes perfect sense that it's "exclusive". Epic's got time to test their engine before the next generation lands. Iron out the bugs, you know. Anyway guaranteed it makes it for launch day next-gen.

I would have liked to see something different from them. It's an off year, a post-season after years without a break. Oh well.

Hm. Not what I was expecting to be their first Unreal 4 game.

They are only talking about it as a PC game because they can't talk about the next consoles yet.

I have the feeling this is %100 a "PC exclusive". In other words, "The console/consoles it's coming out on are not actually announced yet so we have to say it's a PC exclusive at least for now."

I'll will be interested to see when more information comes out on the game. No doubt it will look gorgeous in the new engine.

At least the next Unreal Engine is now in color. 
 
It really does look similar to Team Fortress 2. If it plays like it, I'm sold. If my PC can run it.

I'm making two predictions, one that this is a free-to-play game, two that they will launch this with their flash 11 publishing tech. Lets see how right I am.

Unreal Fortress 2

@Vodun said:

PC exclusive? What the whaaaat? Next thing you'll be telling me is they're changing their name back to Epic Mega Games and releasing a new Jazz Jackrabbit.

They should release a new jazz jackrabbit and it should be a launch title for a console.

"co-op sandbox survival game."

Yeah OK, Epic. I'm listening.

PC exclusive = Xbox 8 launch title

@scarace360 said:

@Vodun said:

PC exclusive? What the whaaaat? Next thing you'll be telling me is they're changing their name back to Epic Mega Games and releasing a new Jazz Jackrabbit.

They should release a new jazz jackrabbit and it should be a launch title for a console.

Only they should make it super dark, and Jazz has to drink blood to stay alive and theres dismemberment and also a lot of mysterious crystal collecting. Kids love vampires these days right????

I fully expected them to trot out the "ultra-realism" capabilities for their first UE4 game, so this art style is a neat little surprise.

@Portis said:

God damn, that looks a lot like the Scout from TF2. I'M ON FI-YAH!

Ive been playing like 20 hours of tf2 a week and I heard that in mind like I was wearing headphones.

I'm guessing this is also the Free to Play game that Clifford was previously hinting about?

Seems like the perfect game to adopt the TF2 model.