Unreal Engine

High-performance game engine known for cutting-edge graphics

High-performance game engine known for cutting-edge graphics

Screenshot of the Unreal Engine website highlighting high-performance game engine with advanced graphics

What is Unreal Engine?

Unreal Engine is a powerful game engine developed by Epic Games, renowned for its advanced graphics capabilities and professional-grade tools. It's used to create high-quality games across various platforms.

What is Unreal Engine used for?

  • High-Fidelity Graphics: Create stunning visuals with advanced rendering technologies.

  • Blueprint Visual Scripting: Develop game logic without coding using a visual scripting system.

  • C++ Programming: Write custom code for performance and flexibility.

  • Cross-Platform Development: Build games for PC, consoles, mobile, and VR/AR platforms.

  • Animation Tools: Utilize robust tools for character animation and cinematic sequences.

  • Physics and Simulation: Implement realistic physics, destruction, and particle effects.

  • Marketplace: Access a library of assets, plugins, and tools.

  • Virtual Production: Use real-time rendering for film, TV, and live events.

By choosing Unreal Engine, developers can create immersive and graphically impressive games, leveraging a robust engine with extensive capabilities.

Is Unreal Engine free?

Unreal Engine offers a flexible licensing structure tailored to different project needs and revenue levels:

  • Free License: Ideal for game developers, individuals, small businesses, and educators under $1 million USD in annual revenue. This tier grants full access to Unreal Engine’s source code, all platforms, and community resources, making it suitable for indie developers and academic institutions.

  • Royalty-based Licensing: Applicable to projects generating over $1 million USD in revenue that use Unreal Engine runtime code. After the first $1 million, a 5% royalty is required on gross revenue directly related to the Unreal Engine product. Revenue from sales on the Epic Games Store is exempt from royalties.

  • Seat-based Licensing: For commercial projects with over $1 million USD in revenue that don’t rely on runtime code, a seat license is available at $1,850 per seat annually. This tier also includes access to Twinmotion and RealityCapture, with additional support for larger teams with 10+ seats.

This structured pricing approach makes Unreal Engine accessible to a wide range of users, from indie creators to large-scale enterprises.

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Have an alternative to Unreal Engine? Submit it here and let others discover the tools you created.

Have an alternative to Unreal Engine? Submit it here and let others discover the tools you created.