Game Development · head to head
Gamesparks vs Lumberyard
Lumberyard
Game Development
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Gamesparks aWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date; 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: Gamesparks covers Real-time features, Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Gamesparks and Lumberyard actually diverge.
| Attribute | Gamesparks | Lumberyard |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | free |
| Platforms | Cross-platform | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Game Development), founded (2006).
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 Gamesparks
- Real-time features
- User authentication
- Data storage
- Matchmaking
- WebSocket support
- Cloud integration
- Analytics
- Lambda
Only in Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Advanced graphics
- Physics simulation
- AWS GameLift integration
- VR capabilities
- GameLift
Both cover
- Multiplayer support
- AWS services
- DynamoDB
- Cognito
- AWS security
- Aws deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Gamesparks
- Multiplayer gamesnot Lumberyard
- Real-time gamesnot Lumberyard
- Cloud gamingnot Lumberyard
- Game analyticsnot Lumberyard
Lumberyard
- Building 3D games with an AWS-integrated enginenot Gamesparks
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot Gamesparks
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot Gamesparks
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Gamesparks
- AWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date
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
Gamesparks
Free- Free TierFree
- 1M API requests
- 1M CloudWatch logs
- Free for first year
- Pay-as-you-go$0.01/request
- Unlimited API requests
- Real-time multiplayer
- CloudWatch integration
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
Which should you pick?
Choose Gamesparks if
- You need real-time features.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cross-platform.
- You also want user authentication.
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 Gamesparks or Lumberyard better?
- Neither clearly leads. Gamesparks 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, Gamesparks or Lumberyard?
- Gamesparks starts at Free and Lumberyard at Free.
- Does Gamesparks or Lumberyard run on more platforms?
- Gamesparks runs on Cross-platform. Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- Can I use Gamesparks for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Gamesparks best used for?
- Gamesparks is most often used for multiplayer games, real-time games, cloud gaming, game analytics. Of those, multiplayer games and real-time games are not what Lumberyard is typically brought in for.
- What can Gamesparks do that Lumberyard cannot?
- Gamesparks covers Real-time features, User authentication, Data storage, Matchmaking. Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Both handle Multiplayer support, AWS services, DynamoDB, Cognito.