Why do some people keep disparaging Chinese games for using Unreal Engine 5? This double standard is absurd

Summary

A heated discussion has erupted on the NGA forum regarding the use of Unreal Engine 5 in Chinese-developed games. A viral post questioned why some players keep using "using UE5" as a reason to criticize Chinese developers, accusing them of lacking technical capability and relying solely on third-party engines. The post argued that for small and medium-sized studios, choosing established engines like UE5 or Unity is the most practical and rational strategy due to cost and talent availability. Developing an engine from scratch requires enormous investment and a long cycle, which most small companies simply cannot afford. Only industry giants like Tencent and NetEase have the resources to pursue proprietary engine development. The post emphasized that an engine is merely a tool, and it should not be used to judge the quality of a game. The discussion quickly split players into two camps: some see it as unfair double standards and excessive criticism of Chinese games, while others insist that Chinese studios should invest more in self-developed technology to enhance their competitiveness. The debate reflects high expectations for technological innovation in Chinese gaming and highlights a widespread misunderstanding about the relationship between engine usage and development capability. For players, it is crucial to evaluate games based on their merits rather than the tools they…