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Game Development · head to head

Lumberyard vs O3DE

Lumberyard logo

Lumberyard

Game Development

Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
O3DE logo

O3DE

Game Development

Open 3D Engine - Professional game engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lumberyard aWS Lumberyard free tier has restricted access and is intended for getting started only; O3DE minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2
  • They diverge on capability: Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumberyard and O3DE actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumberyard and O3DE differ
AttributeLumberyardO3DE
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox
Founded20062021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 O3DE

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Modular architecture
  • Physics engine
  • Audio system
  • Animation tools
  • Particle effects
  • Material system
  • Lighting 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 O3DE
  • Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot O3DE
  • Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot O3DE

O3DE

  • Building 3D games and simulations on an open source Apache-licensed enginenot Lumberyard
  • Robotics and industrial simulation using O3DE Gemsnot Lumberyard
  • Projects that need full engine source access with no royaltynot Lumberyard

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

O3DE

  • Minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2
  • Raytracing features require Shader Model 6.3
  • Disk space required is 40 GB using the prebuilt installer and 100 GB or more when building from source
  • Building the engine from source needs 2 GB of RAM per build thread on top of normal system requirements
  • On Windows the editor requires Windows 10 version 20H2 or later plus Visual Studio 2019 16.11.x, 2022 17.3.x or 2026 18.0.x with the Game development with C++ workload
  • The only primary Linux distribution for the editor is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Ubuntu on 64-bit ARMv8 is experimental
  • Linux builds need CMake 3.30.0 or later, which is newer than the 3.22 shipped by default with Ubuntu 22.04
  • Wayland support is experimental, requires building from source, and is limited to the Game Launcher with no editor support until O3DE moves to Qt6
  • Linux requires a long list of additional apt library packages to be installed before building

Pricing, plan by plan

Lumberyard

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine source
    • AWS integration
    • Lua scripting

O3DE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Modular architecture
    • Cross-platform

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.
Lumberyard review

Choose O3DE if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox.
  • You also want modular architecture.
O3DE review

Questions people ask

Is Lumberyard or O3DE better?
Neither clearly leads. Lumberyard starts at Free and O3DE at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lumberyard or O3DE?
Lumberyard starts at Free and O3DE at Free.
Does Lumberyard or O3DE run on more platforms?
Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. O3DE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox.
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 O3DE is typically brought in for.
What can Lumberyard do that O3DE cannot?
Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering, Modular architecture, Physics engine, Audio system. Both handle Local deployment, Console deployment, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
O3DE: Is O3DE free to download and use?

Yes, O3DE is completely free and open source, available for download at no cost under continuous development.

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
O3DE: How is O3DE funded if it is free?

O3DE is supported through optional donations and member organization contributions rather than user licensing fees.

Source
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