The 2007 lawsuit that Silicon Knights filed against Epic Games over problems with the latter company's Unreal Engine ended earlier this year in Epic's favor, but it has only recently been discovered that the court's ruling calls for more than just SK's $4.45 million payout. The documents apparently also include an order for the developer to destroy all games and code connected to the case, as discovered by a NeoGAF user (via Kotaku).
All Silicon Knights titles that were developed using Unreal Engine 3 need to be recalled from retailers and destroyed by December 10, 2012. It's a list that includes Too Human and X-Men: Destiny as well as a handful of never-released titles: The Box/Ritualyst, The Sandman, and Siren in the Maelstrom. Silicon Knights' lawsuit alleged that Epic's UE3 was unfinished, which hindered the company's development work, but the court ruled otherwise.
Whatever your opinion might be of either of the released games, this is a shame. Each one represents thousands of working hours and unquantifiable amounts of creative thought. As much as many of us embrace the idea that games are a form of art, a black and white court order such as this one serves as a harsh reminder that they're still also products.
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