This article was produced with support from the Capitol Forum.
Scientists, artists, and archivists are panicking about Epic Games’ deprecating of Sketchfab, the internet’s leading repository for open access 3D models, saying that the uncertain future of the platform under Epic Games’ ownership could break or limit access to hundreds of thousands of free 3D models, severely impacting their role in education, research, and conservation.
“Since its inception, Sketchfab.com, a 3D model-sharing website, has served the invaluable function of hosting and showcasing the vast digitized collections and portfolios of many museums, universities, and artists across the world,” a petition to “keep Sketchfab alive,” says. “Unfortunately, their new owners, Epic Games, intend to destroy it [...] This is the virtual equivalent of burning the Library of Alexandria.”
"We have no intention of burning any libraries,” Epic's vice president and general manager for creator marketplaces Bill Clifford told GamesIndustry.biz. “Change is tough and we've tried to be extremely clear and concise in our communications, and I think sometimes it's easily misinterpreted, especially as you go deeper and deeper into Reddit threads.”