Epic Games is a video game and software development company based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. It was founded by Tim Sweeney in 1991. Epic Games is best known for creating the Unreal Engine, a widely-used game development engine, and for developing popular video game franchises like Unreal, Gears of War, and Fortnite.

Fortnite, released in 2017, is an immensely popular online multiplayer game developed by Epic Games. It gained widespread attention due to its unique combination of building mechanics and battle royale gameplay. Fortnite quickly became a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of players worldwide and generating significant revenue through in-game purchases and collaborations with popular brands and artists.

In addition to game development, Epic Games also operates the Epic Games Store, a digital distribution platform for PC and Mac games. The Epic Games Store launched in December 2018 and has been competing with other established platforms like Steam by offering developers more favorable revenue sharing terms.

Epic Games has been involved in various legal and industry controversies. In 2020, Epic Games engaged in a high-profile legal battle with Apple over App Store policies and fees, resulting in a court case that could potentially impact the future of mobile app marketplaces. The outcome of the case is yet to be determined.

Overall, Epic Games has made significant contributions to the gaming industry through its game development, game engine technology, and digital distribution platform.