When we talk about game engines, there are basically only 2 alternatives, Unity 3D and Unreal Engine. The two solutions are ideal for creating 3D configurators. And if you know about the gaming world, you may already know that Unity 3D has a total of 4.5 million subscribers and a market share of 48%, while Unreal Engine has 13%. But it doesn’t say that much yet. Both software solutions have their advantages and disadvantages, so the choice should be made based on the requirements of the project and other factors.
What are you up to?
Before we start discussing Unreal Engine and Unity 3D, it’s important to decide what kind of game you want to develop. You might want a 3D or 2D game or a combination of both. You can keep your first game pretty straightforward by creating a word puzzle, for example. But it can also be something that makes high demands on the graphic design. Also the question arises whether you are planning the game for your personal use or for Google’s and Apple’s App stores. You have to consider all these factors if you want to make the right choice between Unreal Engine and Unity 3D.
Once you’ve completed your plan, you need to consider a few key factors to make the right choice between these two options.
Prices.
The first factor is prices. Both engines offer a free basic version. In addition, there are optional paid components.
The full version of Unreal Engine 4 is free if its revenue is less than $3,000 per month, if more than 5% of its income is charged.
For Unity 3D, it is free if their annual business revenue is less than $100,000. With the paid version, you get some important features, such as creating an asset bundle or replacing the standard splash screen. For the Pro version, the price is $1,500 or a subscription of $75/month. In addition, there are separate costs for game development in iOS or Android.
If you are planning to develop something bigger, you should choose Unity 3D. However, if you have a simple or experimental plan, the Unreal Engine is a good choice.
Programming languages.
The programming language plays a decisive role for the security and scalability of the game to be developed. The Unreal Engine 4 uses C++ for programming and Unity 3D uses JavaScript or C#. The decision as to which program is better suited for you should be based on your own skill set. If you prefer one of these programming languages over the other, it can be easy for you to decide.
Asset Store.
Both Unity 3D and Unreal Engine 4 have their own Asset Stores. You can get finished 3D models of characters, textures, environments, and even sounds and particle systems. However, Unity 3D performs much better due to the number of assets in its shop. It offers everything from animation and GUI generators to extensions for AI control and the ORK framework for creating RPGs.
Platforms.
The more platforms you support, the larger your potential customer base will be:
Unreal Engine: iOS, Android, VR, Linux, Windows PC, Mac OS X, SteamOS, HTML 5, Xbox One and PS4.
Unity 3D: iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8, Tizen, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One & 360, Windows PC, Mac OS X, Linux, Web player, WebGL, VR (incl. HoloLens), SteamOS, PS4, PlayStation Vita and Wii U.
In this comparison, Unity 3D is the clear winner.
Ease of use.
Unity 3D is known for its easy-to-use interface, which allows new developers to easily create games. Although Unreal Engine has made many improvements in the last update, Unreal still ranks second behind Unity 3D in terms of usability.
Both interfaces are very similar, with toolbars and settings within scalable and movable windows. Unreal’s user interface is quite bloated and complex. In many ways it takes more time than Unity 3D. Importing and saving assets takes a long time and simple tasks require additional steps. Unity 3D’s user interface is very responsive. It is lightweight and runs on Windows XP (SP2), while UE4 requires at least Windows 7 64-bit. Although the final product may look more beautiful in Unreal than in Unity 3D, it can be a lot harder, especially for beginners.
Blueprint.
The Unreal Engine has a visual scripting for the Blueprint. A node-based scripting method directly inside. Technically, you don’t have to write code. This is ideal for fast prototyping levels and you can even create entire games with the blueprint. If you’re not a programmer, you can use it to develop games with limitations.
However, this feature is not available with Unity 3D.
Graphical aspects.
When it comes to graphics, the Unreal Engine 4 Unity 3D is far superior. From complex particle simulation systems to advanced dynamic lighting, Unreal Engine has it all. Unreal Engine 4 has the ability to create any visual style you want in 2D or 3D. It’s always good to have the opportunity to further enhance the graphics if you choose to. However, with the upcoming Unity 3D version 5, it’s expected to be close to the Unreal Engine.
Small conclusion at the end.
Both engines are amazing game development tools and are similar in many ways. Based on the parameters we’ve discussed in this article, you can easily decide which software to choose. However, since both are almost free, you can download them both, try them out and send us a message.
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