Fab finally opened yesterday (10/22/24). So how's it going? Did Epic let us down, or impress us?

Well... I've compiled screenshots of user reactions on Fab/Sketchfab social media in the past day or so. I suggest you take a look and decide for yourself.

In other, brighter news: James Batchelor, editor-in-chief of gamesindustry.biz, has done a fantastic job in his coverage of our small but effective effort to counteract Fab and save Sketchfab. The article is absolutely worth reading. I was very impressed (and grateful).

It appears that Epic is taking the complaints somewhat seriously. Or they might just be paying lip service. This is my personal favorite part: 

• In its rallying cry against the migration, the petition suggests that changes to Sketchfab – including the removal of the ability to download free models – is "the virtual equivalent of burning the Library of Alexandria."
• To this, Clifford responds: "We have no intention of burning any libraries." 

Good to know.

But it's not over. I came across another article in a different tech publication, this one sponsored by Epic Games (it includes a coupon to an event, hosted by the website, that Tim Sweeney is speaking at!) This one, too, deserves a look... for the sake of understanding exactly what we're up against. 

In it, the Epic executive (Clifford again) describes their "aggressive growth plan for 2025" and reveals (as they admitted in 2023) that "Fab" is both a way to boost their unpopular Unreal Marketplace, and a front for their quixotic Metaverse schemes.

I will end with the positive note that James is not the only journalist working on this. Definitely stay tuned. But it's not over. As Epic Games says (much more ominously) in that sponsored article: "Today’s launch is just the beginning."

Good luck to us all. 

EDIT: Another long-time Sketchfab user who joined in 2013 has started a Discord group for those who would rather have Sketchfab than Fab. Join here: https://discord.gg/sdb5TxwAXM