Silicon Knights i problemer

Silicon Knights, udvikleren bag bl.a. Too Human, befinder sig i en mørk tid. Studiet har været i slagsmål med Epic Games i længere tid over brugen af Unreal Engine. Retssagen er langt fra overstået, men nu er der sket en udvikling i sagen. Silicon Knights har fået ordre på at ødelægge alle spilkoder baseret på Unreal Engine men mere end det: De skal ligeledes indstille alt udvikling af fremtidige spil, der kører på Unreal Engine, samt tilbagekalde alle Unreal-baserede spil, som ikke er blevet solgt. Silicon Knights fik ydermere ordre på at betale Epic Games den nette sum af $4.45 millioner, men det beløb er nu fordoblet til hele $9 millioner.

Epic Games' reaktion er ganske forståelig: "Epic Games appreciates the court's careful consideration of the motions and is gratified by the order." Silicon Knights anklagede Epic Games for bl.a. ikke at leve op til serviceaftalen, da Silicon Knights købte rettigheden til at bruge Unreal Engine, hvilket førte til forhøjede omkostninger for Silicon Knights ved udviklingen af Too Human. Sagen fortsætter nu, men det ser sort ud for Silicon Knights.


English version:

Silicon Knights, the developer behind Too Human, is in a tight spot. The studio has been in a dog fight with Epic Games for a long time over the use of the Unreal Engine. The case is far from over but there has been a development in the matter. Silicon Knights has been ordered to destroy all game codes based on the Unreal Engine but more than that: they must also cease all future developments using the engine and recall and destroy every unsold game using it. Silicon Knights was also ordered to pay Epic Games a sum of $4.45 million but that amount has been doubled to a staggering $9 million.

Epic Games' reaction is quite understandable: "Epic Games appreciates the court's careful consideration of the motions and is gratified by the order.". Silicon Knights claimed that Epic Games didn't meet their end of the agreement when they purchased the right to use the Unreal Engine which lead to a more expensive development of Too Human. The case will continue but it doesn't look good for Silicon Knights.