Game Development · head to head
Lumberyard vs GameMaker Studio 2
Lumberyard
Game Development
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
GameMaker Studio 2
Game Development
The fastest way to create games. For everyone.
- 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; GameMaker Studio 2 the free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
- They diverge on capability: Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lumberyard and GameMaker Studio 2 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lumberyard | GameMaker Studio 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch |
| Founded | 2006 | 1999 |
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 Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Advanced graphics
- Physics simulation
- AWS GameLift integration
- Multiplayer support
- VR capabilities
Only in GameMaker Studio 2
- Drag-and-drop interface
- GML programming language
- Sprite editor
- Animation frames
- Sound editor
- Room editor
- Particle effects
- Physics system
Both cover
- Local deployment
- Console 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 GameMaker Studio 2
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot GameMaker Studio 2
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot GameMaker Studio 2
GameMaker Studio 2
- Building 2D games for desktop, web and mobilenot Lumberyard
- Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot Lumberyard
- Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot 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
GameMaker Studio 2
- The free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
- Console exports are available only on the Enterprise subscription, which is billed at $79.49 per month
- Source code access is limited to the Enterprise tier
- Older Creator and Indie subscriptions are no longer renewed when the licence expires
- Owners of a permanent GameMaker Studio 2 licence get no discount toward current licences
Pricing, plan by plan
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
GameMaker Studio 2
Free- FreeFree
- Desktop game creation
- Community support
- Standard export options
- Pro$99/year
- All Free features
- Advanced export modules
- Mobile platforms
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 GameMaker Studio 2 if
- You need drag-and-drop interface.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
- You also want gml programming language.
Questions people ask
- Is Lumberyard or GameMaker Studio 2 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lumberyard starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lumberyard or GameMaker Studio 2?
- Lumberyard starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free.
- Does Lumberyard or GameMaker Studio 2 run on more platforms?
- Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
- 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 GameMaker Studio 2 is typically brought in for.
- What can Lumberyard do that GameMaker Studio 2 cannot?
- Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames. Both handle Local deployment, Console deployment, Windows support.