Software · head to head
Lumberyard vs CryEngine
Lumberyard
Software
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
CryEngine
Software
Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development 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; CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
- They diverge on capability: Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, CryEngine covers Physics engine.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lumberyard and CryEngine actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lumberyard | CryEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 1999 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux), 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 Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Physics simulation
- AWS GameLift integration
- Multiplayer support
- VR capabilities
- AWS services
Only in CryEngine
- Physics engine
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
- Perforce
Both cover
- Advanced graphics
- Visual Studio
- Source code access
- Local deployment
- Console deployment
- Windows support
- Playstation 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 CryEngine
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot CryEngine
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot CryEngine
CryEngine
- Building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illuminationnot Lumberyard
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot Lumberyard
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot 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
CryEngine
- A royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
- Royalties are waived only on the first USD 5,000.00 of Gross Receipts per year per game
- Royalties are calculated at source on gross receipts before any publisher or platform deductions, so a developer receiving 70% of USD 100,000 still owes USD 4,750
- Military projects, gambling, simulation, science, architecture and serious games are excluded from the standard licence and are not covered as Games
- The licence forbids combining CRYENGINE with code from other game engine providers
- Supported platforms are limited to those Crytek announces at its sole discretion, listed in the agreement as Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
- Support is only provided against payment of a separate Support Fee that Crytek may change at its sole discretion
- Crytek may modify the licence agreement at any time, with the only remedy for disagreement being to stop using CRYENGINE
Pricing, plan by plan
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
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 CryEngine if
- You need physics engine.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want ai system.
Questions people ask
- Is Lumberyard or CryEngine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lumberyard starts at Free and CryEngine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lumberyard or CryEngine?
- Lumberyard starts at Free and CryEngine at Free.
- Does Lumberyard or CryEngine run on more platforms?
- Both run on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 CryEngine is typically brought in for.
- What can Lumberyard do that CryEngine cannot?
- Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Physics simulation. CryEngine covers Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools, Flow Graph visual scripting. Both handle Advanced graphics, Visual Studio, Source code access, Local deployment.