Software · head to head
CryEngine vs Lumberyard
CryEngine
Software
Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Lumberyard
Software
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Lumberyard aws.amazon.com/lumberyard now redirects to the AWS homepage; Amazon Lumberyard is no longer offered as an AWS product
- They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Physics engine, Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Lumberyard actually diverge.
| Attribute | CryEngine | Lumberyard |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux), 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
- Physics engine
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
- Perforce
Only in Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Physics simulation
- AWS GameLift integration
- Multiplayer support
- VR capabilities
- AWS services
Both cover
- Advanced graphics
- Visual Studio
- Source code access
- Local deployment
- Console deployment
- Windows support
- Playstation 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 Lumberyard
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot Lumberyard
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Lumberyard
Lumberyard
- Building 3D games with an AWS-integrated enginenot CryEngine
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot CryEngine
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot 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
Lumberyard
- aws.amazon.com/lumberyard now redirects to the AWS homepage; Amazon Lumberyard is no longer offered as an AWS product
- The engine's successor is the Open 3D Engine, governed by the Open 3D Foundation rather than AWS, so migration means moving to a differently governed project
- No Lumberyard-branded documentation, download or support commitment remains at the original AWS product URL
Pricing, plan by plan
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
Which should you pick?
Choose CryEngine if
- You need physics engine.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want ai system.
Choose Lumberyard if
- You need cryengine foundation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want lua scripting.
Questions people ask
- Is CryEngine or Lumberyard better?
- Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Lumberyard at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Lumberyard?
- CryEngine starts at Free and Lumberyard at Free.
- Does CryEngine or Lumberyard run on more platforms?
- Both run on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 Lumberyard is typically brought in for.
- What can CryEngine do that Lumberyard cannot?
- CryEngine covers Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools, Flow Graph visual scripting. Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Physics simulation. Both handle Advanced graphics, Visual Studio, Source code access, Local deployment.