Former Unreal Engine 'Evangelist' Sjoerd De Jong Exits Epic Games After 12 Years

Sjoerd De Jong, a longtime Unreal Engine expert and former lead evangelist at Epic Games, has left the company after 12 years, he revealed in a recent LinkedIn post. De Jong joined Epic full-time in 2014 and held several roles, including senior director of an unannounced project. In his post, he said, "After 27 years of Unreal Engine, and 12 years at Epic Games and Unreal Engine, I have decided to move on. Last week was my last week at Epic." He called the experience "truly life changing," crediting the engine for transforming his life after a difficult childhood and youth.

A Legacy in Unreal Engine Development

De Jong's journey with Unreal Engine began when he was just 15 years old, modding the original 1998 first-person shooter. His talent for level design quickly gained recognition, and he was directly approached by Epic to work on Unreal Tournament 2004. There, he designed iconic maps such as DM-Rankin and ONS-Torlan, with DM-Rankin being the most-played UT2004 map of all time, according to server stats on the Unreal wiki. His website showcases a comprehensive portfolio of work spanning games like Killzone and The Ball, highlighting his versatility and deep expertise in game design.

Throughout his career, De Jong has worked at various studios, including Starbreeze and his own indie company, Teotl Studios. However, his passion for Unreal Engine remained constant. When he joined Epic in 2014, the company appointed him as the engine's "lead evangelist," a role that saw him travel to dozens of countries, visit hundreds of studios, present hundreds of talks, and connect with tens of thousands of developers every year. His work helped support millions of developers globally, cementing his status as a key figure in the engine's evolution.

A New Chapter in the Ever-Changing Games Industry

In his LinkedIn post, De Jong explained that his decision to leave Epic was driven by the need to move forward. He noted that the games industry is constantly evolving, and he feels the current moment is particularly pivotal. "It feels like we are reaching a pivotal point now and a potent mix of things," he wrote. While he didn't specify what the future holds, he expressed curiosity about where he might end up next. "Let's see where we end up," he said, adding that he hopes to "come to terms with where [the industry] is heading" and prepare for the "challenges and opportunities" that lie ahead.