Hey Everyone!

It's been a minute since we posted on this blog... (391 days, perhaps...), but that's in the past! Now is the present, and we are back to posting with mild regularity (can't promise the world, you know how it is).

We have been hard at work on Ravenwood Acres and hope to share some fantastic news on that front over the next few weeks by showing off combat enhancements, our redesigned map, and so much more. 

Today, however, I want to discuss this "new" fancy thing called UGC or User Generated Content. UGC has been around for quite some time in video games in the form of Mods created to alter the game or even something as small as blogs like this that enhance the gaming experience. Studios have known for a while that user-generated content extends the life expectancy of a game, keeping the experience fresh and engaging. Look at Skyrim or Grand Theft Auto; these games are still widely played today thanks to UGC (and them just being great games).

More recently, however, companies have looked into monetizing them. Some with success, such as CurseForge letting Mod creators earn an income or Roblox paying creators out of a pool of funds to encourage new game modes. Others with lacking success, yes, I am talking about the Bethesda Creator Club. Great idea, poor execution; we are looking at you crab armor. 

Fortnite, however, is a more recent player to the space, and they have come out swinging! As of March 2024, over 15,000 creators have published Islands (Fortnites version of Mod/game modes), drawing in over 130 million players. They have matched the interest in UGC with a staggering payout to creators. Over $320 million has been paid out to creators so far, and this is just the beginning. 

With announced partnerships with Lego, Disney, Rocket League, and Fall Guys, the future of UGC in Fortnite (UEFN) is incredibly bright. 

While we are still hard at work on Ravenwood and hope to launch into Early Access sometime next year, Azure Ravens got its start as a contract game development studio. With funding drying up last year for indie studios, we have done what we do best: buckle down and get to work. We have been exploring UEFN and how some major companies have made their mark. We have a partnership we are looking forward to announcing here in the next few weeks that I think everyone will be excited about. 

While we can't predict the future (trust me, 2023 me wishes we could), we can be sure that UGC will continue to gain popularity. With studios looking for ways to extend the life of their games and creators looking for new avenues to earn an income, it seems to be a perfect match. It is exciting to see Epic leading the way in both terms of creator tools and creator pay. The standard they are setting will make it easier for studios and teams to form around the idea of creating in their ecosystem. 

I am excited to get back into posting and sharing what happens at our studio! If you enjoyed this post, let us know in the comments below. Make sure to connect with us on our socials, and until next time!

- Corbin John Reeves, CEO & Creative Director

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