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Game Development · head to head

CryEngine vs Medium by Adobe

CryEngine logo

CryEngine

Game Development

Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Medium by Adobe logo

Medium by Adobe

AR VR

Sculpt in VR with intuitive tools

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CryEngine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Medium by Adobe covers VR sculpting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Medium by Adobe actually diverge.

Attributes where CryEngine and Medium by Adobe differ
AttributeCryEngineMedium by Adobe
Starting priceFree$9.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxVr, Quest
CategoryGame DevelopmentAR VR
Founded19991982

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Medium by Adobe

  • VR sculpting
  • Layer system
  • Stamps
  • Move tool
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Substance
  • FBX export
  • Vr support

What people use each for

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

CryEngine

  • Game engine for indie and professional game developmentnot Medium by Adobe
  • Real-time 3D rendering and visualizationnot Medium by Adobe
  • VR and immersive experience creationnot Medium by Adobe
  • Environmental and industrial simulationnot Medium by Adobe

Medium by Adobe

  • VR Gamingnot CryEngine
  • AR Marketingnot CryEngine
  • Virtual Trainingnot CryEngine
  • 3D Visualizationnot CryEngine
  • Immersive Experiencesnot 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

Medium by Adobe

Nothing recorded yet. See the Medium by Adobe review.

Pricing, plan by plan

CryEngine

Free
  • Free CRYENGINEFree
    • Free download and use in development
    • 5% royalty on revenue after shipping
    • First $5,000 annual revenue per project royalty-free

Medium by Adobe

$9.99/month
  • Medium$9.99/month
    • Full sculpting tools
    • Export
    • Adobe integration

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 Medium by Adobe if

  • You need vr sculpting.
  • You work on Vr, Quest.
  • You also want layer system.
Medium by Adobe review

Questions people ask

Is CryEngine or Medium by Adobe better?
Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Medium by Adobe at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Medium by Adobe?
CryEngine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CryEngine and $9.99/month for Medium by Adobe.
Does CryEngine or Medium by Adobe run on more platforms?
CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Medium by Adobe runs on Vr, Quest.
Can I use CryEngine for free?
Yes. CryEngine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Medium by Adobe starts at $9.99/month.
What is CryEngine best used for?
CryEngine is most often used for game engine for indie and professional game development, real-time 3d rendering and visualization, vr and immersive experience creation, environmental and industrial simulation. Of those, game engine for indie and professional game development and real-time 3d rendering and visualization are not what Medium by Adobe is typically brought in for.
What can CryEngine do that Medium by Adobe cannot?
CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. Medium by Adobe covers VR sculpting, Layer system, Stamps, Move tool.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CryEngine: Does CRYENGINE have a free version?

Yes, CRYENGINE is free to download and use for development. When you ship a project, a 5% royalty applies to revenue, but the first $5,000 annual revenue per project is royalty-free.

Source
CryEngine: How much does CRYENGINE cost after launch?

CRYENGINE charges 5% royalty on revenue after your project ships. The first $5,000 in annual revenue per project is royalty-free; royalties apply only to revenue above that threshold.

Source
CryEngine: What does CRYENGINE free tier include?

Free CRYENGINE access includes full source code, all engine features, and access to all supported platforms. No payment required for development; only per-revenue royalties apply after shipping.

Source
CryEngine: Does CRYENGINE offer custom enterprise licensing?

Yes, CRYENGINE offers custom-tailored enterprise licensing built around individual needs. Specific pricing is not disclosed and requires contacting the vendor.

Source
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