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Game Development · head to head

Gamesparks vs Lumberyard

Gamesparks logo

Gamesparks

Game Development

Backend as a service for game development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lumberyard logo

Lumberyard

Game Development

Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Gamesparks no pricing published on product page; customers directed to AWS pricing resources; Lumberyard aWS Lumberyard free tier has restricted access and is intended for getting started only
  • They diverge on capability: Gamesparks covers Real-time features, Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gamesparks and Lumberyard actually diverge.

Attributes where Gamesparks and Lumberyard differ
AttributeGamesparksLumberyard
Pricing modelusage-basedfree
PlatformsCross-platformWindows, 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

  • No pricing published on product page; customers directed to AWS pricing resources

Lumberyard

  • AWS Lumberyard free tier has restricted access and is intended for getting started only
  • Production use requires pay-as-you-go costs that scale with usage
  • Exact pricing depends on specific AWS services consumed and usage levels

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.
Gamesparks review

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.
Lumberyard review

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.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Gamesparks: How much does AWS GameSparks cost?

AWS GameSparks does not list specific pricing on its product page. The site directs customers to use AWS pricing resources and the AWS Pricing Calculator to estimate costs based on their game backend infrastructure needs.

Source
Lumberyard: Does AWS Lumberyard cost money?

AWS Lumberyard is not free for production use. The service offers a free tier for getting started, hands-on experience, and development. Production deployments use AWS's pay-as-you-go pricing model where costs scale with your usage.

Source
Lumberyard: How is AWS Lumberyard priced?

Lumberyard uses AWS's flexible consumption-based pricing. Customers can use the free tier to explore services, then pay for what they use in production. AWS also offers Savings Plans for lower prices on committed usage.

Source
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