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Defold vs Unreal Engine VR

Defold logo

Defold

Software

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Unreal Engine VR logo

Unreal Engine VR

Software

AAA-quality VR development with Unreal Engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Defold the Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine; Unreal Engine VR steep system requirements with demanding GPU and CPU for rendering high-quality VR experiences
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, Unreal Engine VR covers Photorealistic rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and Unreal Engine VR actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and Unreal Engine VR differ
AttributeDefoldUnreal Engine VR
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded20051995

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 Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite system
  • Particle effects
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight

Only in Unreal Engine VR

  • Photorealistic rendering
  • Physics simulation
  • Blueprint scripting
  • Motion controllers
  • SteamVR
  • Oculus
  • OpenXR
  • PSVR

What people use each for

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

Defold

  • Building 2D games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single projectnot Unreal Engine VR
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot Unreal Engine VR
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot Unreal Engine VR

Unreal Engine VR

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

Where each one falls short

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

Defold

  • The Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • The licence forbids commercialising original or modified versions of the Defold editor or engine itself
  • Significant changes made to the Defold source must be documented under the licence terms

Unreal Engine VR

  • Steep system requirements with demanding GPU and CPU for rendering high-quality VR experiences
  • Only free with 5% royalty after $1 million in revenue, which may impact indie developers at scale

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Lua scripting
    • Physics engine

Unreal Engine VR

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Unreal Engine VR review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Defold if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want physics engine.
Defold review

Choose Unreal Engine VR if

  • You need photorealistic rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want physics simulation.
Unreal Engine VR review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or Unreal Engine VR better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and Unreal Engine VR at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or Unreal Engine VR?
Defold starts at Free and Unreal Engine VR at Free.
Does Defold or Unreal Engine VR run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Unreal Engine VR runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Defold for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Defold best used for?
Defold is most often used for building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project, shipping small-footprint html5 games, teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on games. Of those, building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project and shipping small-footprint html5 games are not what Unreal Engine VR is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that Unreal Engine VR cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Unreal Engine VR covers Photorealistic rendering, Physics simulation, Blueprint scripting, Motion controllers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Unreal Engine VR: Does Unreal Engine support VR and AR development?

Yes. Unreal Engine provides the highest-quality solution for creating augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) experiences, supporting development for VR, AR, gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.

Source
Unreal Engine VR: Is Unreal Engine 5 free to use?

Unreal Engine 5 is free for most uses with no upfront cost. If a project earns over $1 million, a 5% royalty applies to future sales.

Source
Unreal Engine VR: What platforms does Unreal Engine support for VR development?

Unreal Engine supports macOS and Linux development with some limitations, though Windows 10 (64-bit) is the primary development platform. It supports VR development targeting various VR headsets.

Source
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