Epic Games distances itself from ultraviolent mass-murder game Hatred (update)

Unreal Engine maker Epic Games doesn't want its name or logo associated with Hatred, the graphically violent massacre-style shooter built with Unreal Engine 4, and has asked developer Destructive Creations to remove Epic's logo from the game's trailer and other marketing.

"Epic Games isn't involved in this project," a statement from the company reads. "Unreal Engine 4 is available to the general public for use 'for any lawful purpose,' and we explicitly don't exert any sort of creative control or censorship over projects. However, the video is using the trademarked Unreal Engine 4 logo without permission from Epic, and we've asked for the removal of our logo from all marketing associated with this product."

Destructive Creations announced Hatred earlier today. The game's grisly trailer depicts the playable character slaughtering innocents civilians and law enforcement in an effort to rack up a high body count and "spread Armageddon upon society."

The game's debut trailer also uses Nvidia's PhysX logo. We've reached out to Nvidia for comment. We've also reached out to Destructive Creations' through its PR firm for comment on Epic Games' request.

Gliwice, Poland-based Destructive Creations is made up primarily of former developers from studio The Farm 51, developer of Necrovision, Painkiller: Hell and Damnation and the upcoming Get Even. Hatred is Destructive Creations' first title.

Update: Destructive Creations creative director Jarosław Zieliński offered the following statement on Epic's request to Polygon.

"Epic Games has all the legal rights to issue such a request," Zieliński said. "They've contacted me in a friendly manner and asked for the logo removal. Following their request I've removed it from the YouTube version and will remove it from the press version of our trailer ASAP so everyone is happy. It was actually my oversight. I worked on titles and trailers in the past with the Unreal engine license, that is different from the current EULA. Putting Unreal logo at the beginning of our trailer was an obvious choice for me, as the engine is an amazing tool and in fact I considered it mandatory. So I guess I was simply wrong thinking it's a must."