Game Development · head to head
FMOD vs Lumberyard
Lumberyard
Game Development
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- They diverge on capability: FMOD covers FMOD Studio, Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which FMOD and Lumberyard actually diverge.
| Attribute | FMOD | Lumberyard |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Consoles | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux |
| Founded | 2002 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Game Development).
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 FMOD
- FMOD Studio
- Real-time mixing
- Adaptive music
- 3D audio
- Occlusion
- DSP effects
- Live update
- Profiling tools
Only in Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Advanced graphics
- Physics simulation
- AWS GameLift integration
- Multiplayer support
- VR capabilities
Both cover
- Local deployment
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
FMOD
- Game audionot Lumberyard
- Adaptive musicnot Lumberyard
- Sound effectsnot Lumberyard
- VR audionot Lumberyard
Lumberyard
- Building 3D games with an AWS-integrated enginenot FMOD
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot FMOD
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot FMOD
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
FMOD
Nothing recorded yet. See the FMOD review.
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
FMOD
Free- IndieFree
- Full feature set
- Up to $200K budget
- All platforms
- Commercial$6000/project
- Full feature set
- Unlimited budget
- Priority support
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
Which should you pick?
Choose FMOD if
- You need fmod studio.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Consoles.
- You also want real-time mixing.
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 FMOD or Lumberyard better?
- Neither clearly leads. FMOD 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, FMOD or Lumberyard?
- FMOD starts at Free and Lumberyard at Free.
- Does FMOD or Lumberyard run on more platforms?
- FMOD runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Consoles. Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- Can I use FMOD for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is FMOD best used for?
- FMOD is most often used for game audio, adaptive music, sound effects, vr audio. Of those, game audio and adaptive music are not what Lumberyard is typically brought in for.
- What can FMOD do that Lumberyard cannot?
- FMOD covers FMOD Studio, Real-time mixing, Adaptive music, 3D audio. Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.