Software · head to head
Lumberyard vs Cascadeur
Lumberyard
Software
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Lumberyard aws.amazon.com/lumberyard now redirects to the AWS homepage; Amazon Lumberyard is no longer offered as an AWS product; Cascadeur no facial animation tools beyond importing pre-made blend shapes
- They diverge on capability: Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Cascadeur covers AI-assisted posing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lumberyard and Cascadeur actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lumberyard | Cascadeur |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Platforms | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux | Windows 10+, macOS (Apple Silicon M1/M2+), Ubuntu 20.04+, iOS, Android |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), 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 Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Advanced graphics
- AWS GameLift integration
- Multiplayer support
- VR capabilities
- AWS services
Only in Cascadeur
- AI-assisted posing
- AutoPhysics
- Secondary motion
- Trajectories
- FK/IK animation
- Graph editor
- FBX/DAE export
- Unity
Both cover
- Physics simulation
- Local deployment
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Lumberyard
- Building 3D games with an AWS-integrated enginenot Cascadeur
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot Cascadeur
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot Cascadeur
Cascadeur
- Combat animationsnot Lumberyard
- Action sequencesnot Lumberyard
- Character animationnot Lumberyard
- Motion graphicsnot Lumberyard
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Cascadeur
- No facial animation tools beyond importing pre-made blend shapes
- Designed primarily for humanoid characters; non-humanoid animation has limitations
- Free plan is non-commercial use only with no export options besides proprietary CASC format
- Requires per-user licensing for team workflows instead of team seats
Pricing, plan by plan
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
Cascadeur
Free- FreeFree
- Core animation tools
- Physics-based animation
- Rigging and inbetweening
- Indie$29/month
- All Free features
- Commercial use
- FBX, DAE, USD, GLTF export
- Pro$121/month
- All Indie features
- Animation retargeting
- Scene linking
- Teams$null/month
- All Pro features for multiple users
- Centralized user management
- Team coordination tools
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Cascadeur if
- You need ai-assisted posing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows 10+, macOS (Apple Silicon M1/M2+), Ubuntu 20.04+, iOS, Android.
- You also want autophysics.
Questions people ask
- Is Lumberyard or Cascadeur better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lumberyard starts at Free and Cascadeur at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lumberyard or Cascadeur?
- Lumberyard starts at Free and Cascadeur at Free.
- Does Lumberyard or Cascadeur run on more platforms?
- Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Cascadeur runs on Windows 10+, macOS (Apple Silicon M1/M2+), Ubuntu 20.04+, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Lumberyard for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Lumberyard best used for?
- Lumberyard is most often used for building 3d games with an aws-integrated engine, cloud-connected multiplayer game backends, twitch integration for streamed gameplay features. Of those, building 3d games with an aws-integrated engine and cloud-connected multiplayer game backends are not what Cascadeur is typically brought in for.
- What can Lumberyard do that Cascadeur cannot?
- Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Cascadeur covers AI-assisted posing, AutoPhysics, Secondary motion, Trajectories. Both handle Physics simulation, Local deployment, Windows support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Cascadeur: Can I use Cascadeur on a Mac?
Yes, Cascadeur supports macOS on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, and later) with macOS 13.3 or later. However, it does not support Intel-based Macs with x86 processors.
SourceCascadeur: What file formats can I export animations in?
Cascadeur exports to FBX, DAE, USD, GLB, and GLTF formats. The Free plan only exports the proprietary CASC format, while Indie and Pro plans unlock standard interchange formats for compatibility with other software.
SourceCascadeur: Does Cascadeur work with Unreal Engine and Unity?
Yes. Cascadeur integrates with both through standard FBX/DAE export and direct import workflows. Unreal Engine 5.5-5.8 also has a dedicated Live Link plugin for real-time animation streaming from Cascadeur.
SourceCascadeur: Can I animate faces and facial expressions?
Cascadeur has limited facial animation support. You can import blend shapes for facial morphs but cannot create them directly in the software. Full facial rigging and creation remain on the development roadmap.
SourceCascadeur: What is the difference between the Free, Indie, and Pro plans?
Free includes core animation tools but limits exports to CASC format and non-commercial use. Indie ($29/month annual, $70/month monthly) adds FBX/DAE/USD export and commercial rights. Pro ($121/month annual, $180/month monthly) includes retargeting, scene linking, and priority support.
SourceCascadeur: Is there a mobile version of Cascadeur?
Yes. Cascadeur Mobile is available on iOS and Android. The Android version was released in October 2025 and includes full Pro features, arriving ten months after the iOS launch.
Source