The Creative Juice Podcast

In this episode of The Creative Juice Podcast, I sit down with GameDevMicah to break down what it actually takes to push Unreal Engine and UEFN beyond the obvious.

We dig into real world optimization mistakes, common performance traps creators fall into, and how systems like instancing, GPU workflows, and destruction can scale when used correctly. Micah also shares why building in public matters, how devlogs can accelerate learning and trust, and what most creators misunderstand about performance in Unreal.

If you are building in Unreal Engine or UEFN and want to create more ambitious experiences without breaking your game, this episode is a must listen.

Shout outs and links
Discord: gamedevmicah
Website: https://aggressivemastery.com/
X: https://x.com/GameDevMicah
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micahberninghausen/

Available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Eddie Benson and Joel Bestart, Co-Founders of Team Gauntlet, join the podcast to share the real story behind Kraken and how a small team built one of Fortnite’s most successful long-form UEFN experiences.

We unpack what happened before Kraken broke through, how early community feedback shaped the game, and why progression and retention mattered more than chasing short-term Discovery spikes. Eddie and Joel also break down how they divide responsibilities as a small studio, ship ambitious updates, and avoid spreading themselves too thin.

The conversation also dives into their Disney collaboration on Percy Jackson, what surprised them about working with a major IP, and how a three-person team handled expectations that felt closer to AAA than UGC. This episode is packed with honest lessons for creators, developers, and studios building inside Fortnite.

Guest and Studio Links

Eddie Benson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiebenson/
X: https://x.com/zebs_fn

Joel Bestart
X: https://x.com/joelbestart

Team Gauntlet
X: https://x.com/studio_gauntlet
Discord: https://discord.gg/krakenbossfight
Website: https://gauntletfn.com/

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Yu7a, CEO and Co Founder of Vysena Studios, joins me to break down the real story behind some of Fortnite’s most iconic creative projects. We talk about how Naruto and BTS came together in Creative 1.0, what brands still get wrong when entering Fortnite, and why Vysena just launched a new era focused on building long term player focused UEFN games.

He shares behind the scenes stories from the March Through Time project, early Creative growth, working with Epic, trends creators should watch, and what separates great UEFN teams from the rest.

If you want to understand the business, creative, and technical side of Fortnite at a deeper level, this is a must listen.

Follow Yu7a
 X: https://x.com/YU7A_16
Website: https://vysena.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathieu-arribart/

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Fortnite creators always talk about the Discovery system, but almost nobody understands how it actually works. In this episode, I sit down with Jon Hughes, founder of FCHQ and one of the leading analytic minds in Fortnite Creative and UEFN. Jon breaks down the real numbers behind map success, why certain genres explode, why others fade fast, and what the data shows about player behavior in 2025.

We talk about viral loops, live events, retention targets, session time goals, hidden pitfalls, and the common mistakes creators still make. Jon also shares stories from building FCHQ, working inside Epic Games, and developing new tools that massively boost retention for studios and brand activations.

If you want to understand Discovery, analytics, and what actually drives growth inside Fortnite Creative, this episode will change how you build. Whether you are a new creator or a studio lead, Jon gives the clearest breakdown you will ever hear.

Watch the full video episode on YouTube
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeEdFBJesf6Ruqlpktj13hOdTdA7UHRQS

Connect with Jon Hughes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwastaken/
Website: https://fchq.io/
Discord: https://discord.gg/drYeNVYs

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Jim Ying, Managing Director & Founder of Mihada Capital, joins me to break down what it really takes to sell your studio or game. We dive into when to sell, what buyers actually look for, common mistakes creators make, and how acquisitions happen behind the scenes.

This episode is a masterclass for any creator or studio thinking about scaling, raising capital, or getting acquired.

Connect with Jim:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimying/
Website: https://www.mihadacapital.com/

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From Tiffany & Co. to Hive Studio, Dummblond has built some of Fortnite’s most iconic Creative hubs and maps, with more than 100 million plays worldwide. In this episode, she shares how she transitioned from luxury retail to game development, her creative process inside Hive (the studio behind 1v1 With Every Gun), and what it takes to lead in Fortnite’s UGC space.

Connect with Dummblond:
X (Twitter): https://x.com/DummblondGaming

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Philipp Batura, founder of Topcat, joins me to share how he went from failing at his first Roblox game to building a 7-figure digital fashion business featured in Forbes. We talk about the rise of Roblox UGC, scaling to over a million avatar items sold per month, why digital fashion matters more than ever, and how Topcat became one of the biggest names in virtual streetwear.

Connect with Philipp:
 X (Twitter): https://x.com/TopcatGG
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-batura/
Website: https://topcat.gg/

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Michael Herriger, co-founder of Atlas Creative, joins me to talk about building the OG Fortnite map with UEFN, working with brands like the NBA and Microsoft, and expanding into Roblox with hits like Arcade Basketball. We cover player-first design, pitching brands the right way, lessons from billions of plays, and what’s next for Atlas.

Connect with Michael:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelherriger/
Atlas Creative: https://atlascreative.com/

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On this episode of The Creative Juice Podcast, Matt Zanazzo sits down with Ethan Guest, co-founder of Bloom Creative and one of the masterminds behind Zombie Escape, a Fortnite Creative map that exploded with millions of players.

We talk about:
 • The scariest moment of publishing their first map
 • How Zombie Escape became addictive and impossible to copy
 • What playtesting every single day taught Bloom Creative
 • Brand collabs with Panda Express, The Walking Dead, and Sleepy Hollow
 • The future of Fortnite UEFN with AI, Scene Graph, and custom items

This one is packed with insights for Fortnite creators, studios, and anyone looking to turn UEFN into a business.

Ethan Guiest Socials:

👉 https://x.com/BloomEthan_
👉 https://x.com/BloomCreativeX

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Dylan “SirRifty” Benn is the 18-year-old CEO of Genesis Studios, the Fortnite UEFN team behind some of the platform’s most ambitious projects. From building Squid Game with over 1M players in a single day to recreating Fortnite’s iconic live events, Genesis is setting new standards for creative studios.

In this episode, we cover:
 • SirRifty’s journey from Roblox to Fortnite UEFN
 • How Genesis Studios scaled from a friend group to a full business
 • The secrets behind Squid Game’s explosive success
 • Building live events that rival Epic’s own
 • Balancing passion, profit, and the creator economy
 • What’s next for Genesis Studios (Big Bang event, new projects, even non-Fortnite games)

📧 Contact Genesis Studios: [email protected]

 🐦 Follow SirRifty: x.com/SirRifty

🎙 Follow me on socials:
 • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ImmatureG/podcasts

• Twitter/X: https://x.com/immaturegamerx

Please leave a positive review 💚 (Helps us a bunch)

Please leave a positive review 💚(Helps out a bunch)

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/@ImmatureG/podcasts
Twitter: https://www.x.com/immaturegamer