Is this only a fork rather than being accepted into mainline because of Epic's thoughts regarding UWP?
http://www.pcgamer.com/tim-sweeney-thinks-microsoft-will-mak...
So I guess I'm the only one here on hn who thinks this is very cool?
Only because it hasn't been mentioned, I'll remind everyone that they recently did the same with React Native
https://github.com/ReactWindows/react-native-windows
Cool stuff.
Did they then change their minds? The github repository is gone (404), and the user does not have any repositories:
Hopefully this is a pre-cursor to seeing HoloLens build support from UE4.
Yes, but did they send notification emails to every developer with write access to the UE4 main repo?
I was betting on MS buying Unity, but this way they can get support for their platform waaay cheaper.
That'll make Minecraft a little more interesting.
I hope it's not an EEE move[1]? MS aren't new to such things. I.e. make Unreal Engine work with certain things only on UWP platforms, putting everything else at a disadvantage. I don't have much trust in good intentions of MS when gaming and 3D graphics are concerned, given how they are dead bent on lock-in with DX12, while the industry is collaborating on Vulkan.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend_and_extinguish
Sadly it doesn't say anything about motivation. First instinct with Microsoft is that it is probably a dk move. So some explanation would be great. Oh well, let's see how it develops.
It is true that Microsoft has been behaving well lately (GWX aside,) but it is also the case that their getting-away-with-it power is at an all time low.
Microsoft would benefit if they could do all of these anti-consumer things, but that recent stampede towards Linux proved that the tennantry can be easily spooked and dangerous when on the move. Developers are leaving windows to work on Linux and Mac, to the extent that I have not seen a start menu on a single laptop in the entire CS department. If, at some point in the future we all ended up locked in to .net, I would be surprised if Microsoft's management continued their support of these charitable projects.
In that light, I think it would be wise for us to avoid getting locked back in - so that Windows might continue moving towards being a nice place to work.