Software · head to head
Flax Engine vs Lumberyard
Lumberyard
Software
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Flax Engine flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter; 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: Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering, Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Flax Engine and Lumberyard actually diverge.
| Attribute | Flax Engine | Lumberyard |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux |
| Founded | 2017 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Flax Engine
- 3D graphics rendering
- Visual editor
- C# scripting
- Physics engine
- Audio system
- Particle effects
- Skeletal animation
- Material system
Only in Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Advanced graphics
- Physics simulation
- AWS GameLift integration
- Multiplayer support
- VR capabilities
Both cover
- Visual Studio
- Local deployment
- Console deployment
- Windows support
- Playstation support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Flax Engine
- Building 3D games in C# and C++ with full engine source accessnot Lumberyard
- Multi-platform deployment from one editornot Lumberyard
- Prototyping with the bundled Flax Samples projectsnot Lumberyard
Lumberyard
- Building 3D games with an AWS-integrated enginenot Flax Engine
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot Flax Engine
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot Flax Engine
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Flax Engine
- Flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
- Free use is granted for non-commercial or educational usage; commercial releases fall under the royalty
- Users must accept the Flax Engine End-User License Agreement before using the engine or its tools, so it is not an OSI open source licence despite the source being on GitHub
- Non-game uses such as in-house tools or SaaS products need a custom licence negotiated with the vendor, and no rate card is published for per-seat or flat-fee options
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
Flax Engine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine
- Visual editor
- C# scripting
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
Which should you pick?
Choose Flax Engine if
- You need 3d graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
- You also want visual editor.
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 Flax Engine or Lumberyard better?
- Neither clearly leads. Flax Engine 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, Flax Engine or Lumberyard?
- Flax Engine starts at Free and Lumberyard at Free.
- Does Flax Engine or Lumberyard run on more platforms?
- Flax Engine runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox. Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- Can I use Flax Engine for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Flax Engine best used for?
- Flax Engine is most often used for building 3d games in c# and c++ with full engine source access, multi-platform deployment from one editor, prototyping with the bundled flax samples projects. Of those, building 3d games in c# and c++ with full engine source access and multi-platform deployment from one editor are not what Lumberyard is typically brought in for.
- What can Flax Engine do that Lumberyard cannot?
- Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering, Visual editor, C# scripting, Physics engine. Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Both handle Visual Studio, Local deployment, Console deployment, Windows support.