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CryEngine vs Gravity Sketch

CryEngine logo

CryEngine

Software

Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Gravity Sketch logo

Gravity Sketch

Software

VR 3D design tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE; Gravity Sketch free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room
  • They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Gravity Sketch covers VR design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Gravity Sketch actually diverge.

Attributes where CryEngine and Gravity Sketch differ
AttributeCryEngineGravity Sketch
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxVR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web)
Founded19992014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CryEngine

  • Advanced graphics
  • Physics engine
  • AI system
  • Animation tools
  • Flow Graph visual scripting
  • C++ and Lua support
  • Entity component system
  • Sandbox editor

Only in Gravity Sketch

  • VR design
  • Desktop app
  • Surface modeling
  • Collaboration
  • Import/export
  • Presentation mode
  • Rhino
  • Alias

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CryEngine

  • Building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illuminationnot Gravity Sketch
  • Developing with full engine source code accessnot Gravity Sketch
  • Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Gravity Sketch

Gravity Sketch

  • Spatial 3D design and conceptualisation in VRnot CryEngine
  • Collaborative product design sessionsnot CryEngine
  • Conceptual model generationnot CryEngine
  • Engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environmentnot CryEngine

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CryEngine

  • A royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
  • Royalties are waived only on the first USD 5,000.00 of Gross Receipts per year per game
  • Royalties are calculated at source on gross receipts before any publisher or platform deductions, so a developer receiving 70% of USD 100,000 still owes USD 4,750
  • Military projects, gambling, simulation, science, architecture and serious games are excluded from the standard licence and are not covered as Games
  • The licence forbids combining CRYENGINE with code from other game engine providers
  • Supported platforms are limited to those Crytek announces at its sole discretion, listed in the agreement as Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
  • Support is only provided against payment of a separate Support Fee that Crytek may change at its sole discretion
  • Crytek may modify the licence agreement at any time, with the only remedy for disagreement being to stop using CRYENGINE

Gravity Sketch

  • Free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room
  • File format support limited to OBJ and STL on free plan; other formats require paid plan
  • Evaluation tools (surface contours, viewpoints, section tool) not available on free tier
  • VR access requires Meta Quest, Steam, or web app; limited to specific platforms
  • Data localisation only available on Enterprise plan

Pricing, plan by plan

CryEngine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine access
    • Source code
    • Asset library

Gravity Sketch

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Gravity Sketch review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CryEngine if

  • You need advanced graphics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
  • You also want physics engine.
CryEngine review

Choose Gravity Sketch if

  • You need vr design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web).
  • You also want desktop app.
Gravity Sketch review

Questions people ask

Is CryEngine or Gravity Sketch better?
Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Gravity Sketch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Gravity Sketch?
CryEngine starts at Free and Gravity Sketch at Free.
Does CryEngine or Gravity Sketch run on more platforms?
CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Gravity Sketch runs on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web).
Can I use CryEngine for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is CryEngine best used for?
CryEngine is most often used for building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination, developing with full engine source code access, sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get export. Of those, building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination and developing with full engine source code access are not what Gravity Sketch is typically brought in for.
What can CryEngine do that Gravity Sketch cannot?
CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Desktop app, Surface modeling, Collaboration. Both handle Windows support.
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