Cover · CC BY-SA 4.0Games › Core
Core 2021
Core is a free-to-play online video game platform that includes a built-in system for creating games. It was developed by Manticore Games and launched as an open alpha version on March 16, 2020. The platform became available through Early Access on April 15, 2021. Core hosts user-generated content aimed at older teens and adults. Its game creation tools are designed to make it easier for more people to build games. Manticore Games, which developed Core, was founded in 2016 by Frederic Descamps and Jordan Maynard and is headquartered in San Mateo, California. Core shares a similar concept with other platforms like Roblox that allow users to create and play games.
On September 25, 2025, Manticore Games released Out of Time to Epic Games. It is a standalone multiplayer co-op roguelite built using the Core platform. The game creation system in Core supports up to 32-player multiplayer experiences as well as single-player titles. Users can modify and combine built-in assets, a method often known as kitbashing. Third-party tools are also available that allow importing game assets such as wavefront .obj files. Programming is done using the Lua language with an extensive API built into the system. While games created in Core cannot be exported to standalone formats, they can still be shared and played directly within the platform.
In December 2019, Core entered a closed alpha stage where all users had to sign non-disclosure agreements. The public open alpha began on March 16, 2020. In September 2020, Core partnered with Dungeons & Dragons to hold a competition for building the best themed game. The winning submission was named Forgotten Cisterns.
By December 2020, two games—Mining Magnate and Roll 'Em—each reached 100,000 plays on the platform. On December 17, 2020, Core hosted a three-week "Holiday Jam" game jam with the theme of "Winter Wonderland" and $20,000 in prizes.
In June 2022, Core introduced an updated character creation system that allowed more visual customization by combining different parts. At the same time, integration with MetaMask was added. However, in January 2024, the MetaMask wallet and Web3 features were turned off due to limited usage.
Manticore Games raised $30 million in Series B funding in September 2019 to support Core’s development. A further $15 million was raised in September 2020, with Epic Games being the largest contributor. According to Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat, Epic's involvement was motivated by a goal to build a “metaverse” where various gaming platforms connect. In March 2021, Manticore announced it had completed a $100 million Series C funding round and described Core as a “creator multiverse.”
Core has received mixed reviews from critics. Tyler Wilde of PC Gamer gave a mixed review, calling the game creation system "fun" but criticizing the character models as "ugly," animations as stiff, and the in-game weapons and interfaces as unenjoyable to use. Graham Smith of Rock Paper Shotgun stated that the platform “can’t help but create shabby recreations of triple-A games.” Jason Fanelli from MMORPG.com said, “My mind was absolutely blown. Something that takes massive studios multiple years and millions of dollars was accomplished in front of my eyes in the same amount of time it took me to write this sentence.” Marco Vito Oddo of Collider wrote, “If the project grabs enough attention, and if developers/operators Manticore can give all the support a project this big demands, Core can easily become to games what YouTube is for video content.” Regarding the monetization model, Scott Baird from ScreenRant noted, “One of the most exciting things about Core is its revenue split, which offers 50% to its creators, allowing users to make a profit from their in-game titles.”
Crew
- Director
- Frederic Descamps, Jordan Maynard
Details
- Developer
- Manticore Games
- Publisher
- Manticore Games
- Platforms
- Windows
- Modes
- Multiplayer, single-player
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
