Nau Engine Shifts to Open-Source as Legal Entity Closes Down
The legal entity responsible for the Russian-developed Nau Engine, a gaming engine project that VK once planned to invest a substantial sum into, is reportedly in the process of liquidation. According to reports from 'Kommersant', based on data from 'SPARK-Interfax', ООО «Н-Джинн» (N-Gin LLC) began its liquidation process on August 25th.
This move marks a significant shift for the project. While the legal entity is being dissolved, Nau Engine itself will continue to exist as an open-source initiative. The Association of Game Industry Professionals for Operation and Development (APRIORI), which includes key players like VK Play, Astrum Entertainment, and United Games, has announced that future development will be community-driven. This will be supported by expert guidance from APRIORI and technical oversight from ITMO University.
Project's Evolution and Future Focus
The last major updates regarding Nau Engine were in February 2024, when it was revealed that ITMO, with the backing of APRIORI, would take over technical support. For 2025, the community and supporting organizations plan to focus on gathering feedback, integrating third-party modules, and actively engaging with developers to shape the engine's future.
Reports indicate that the project team has already transitioned to ITMO and other ventures. Despite initial ambitions, Nau Engine has not gained significant traction in the market, with game development studios largely continuing to opt for established international solutions like Unity and Unreal Engine 5.
Background and Market Performance
N-Gin LLC had been owned by АО «Мультипликатор Групп» (Multiplier Group JSC), the parent company of Astrum Entertainment, since March 2023. Financial data for 2024 showed the company generating 41.6 million rubles in revenue but incurring a net loss of 1.6 million rubles. Representatives from Astrum Entertainment and VK declined to comment, and the former owner of N-Gin LLC, Kirill Primakov, could not be reached.
VK initially envisioned a domestic game engine as early as 2022, seeing it as a crucial tool for game studios, universities, and various multi-profile companies within Russia. The original plan for funding the open-source version included commercial licenses and subscriptions. However, with the engine failing to achieve widespread adoption, its future is now largely confined to educational and experimental applications within ITMO University.
This decision signifies a pivot for Nau Engine from a potentially commercially backed venture to a fully community-driven open-source project, primarily serving academic and experimental purposes rather than competing in the broader commercial game engine market.
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