Softwr

Game Development · head to head

Lumberyard vs Quixel Mixer

Lumberyard logo

Lumberyard

Game Development

Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quixel Mixer logo

Quixel Mixer

Game Development

Free 3D texturing and material creation

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; Quixel Mixer discontinued as of February 19, 2026 with no future updates or support
  • They diverge on capability: Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Quixel Mixer covers Material blending.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumberyard and Quixel Mixer actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumberyard and Quixel Mixer differ
AttributeLumberyardQuixel Mixer
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxWindows, macOS
Founded20062011

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 Quixel Mixer

  • Material blending
  • Megascans integration
  • Smart materials
  • Procedural tools
  • 3D painting
  • UDIM support
  • Real-time preview
  • Export presets

Both cover

  • 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 Quixel Mixer
  • Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot Quixel Mixer
  • Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot Quixel Mixer

Quixel Mixer

  • Game texturesnot Lumberyard
  • Environment artnot Lumberyard
  • Photorealistic materialsnot Lumberyard
  • Film VFXnot 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

Quixel Mixer

  • Discontinued as of February 19, 2026 with no future updates or support
  • No built-in baker functionality unlike Substance 3D Painter
  • Limited customization compared to industry-standard Substance Painter
  • Megascans asset library now requires paid subscription instead of free access

Pricing, plan by plan

Lumberyard

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

Quixel Mixer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full feature set
    • Megascans integration
    • Commercial use

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 Quixel Mixer if

  • You need material blending.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want megascans integration.
Quixel Mixer review

Questions people ask

Is Lumberyard or Quixel Mixer better?
Neither clearly leads. Lumberyard starts at Free and Quixel Mixer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lumberyard or Quixel Mixer?
Lumberyard starts at Free and Quixel Mixer at Free.
Does Lumberyard or Quixel Mixer run on more platforms?
Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Quixel Mixer runs on Windows, macOS.
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 Quixel Mixer is typically brought in for.
What can Lumberyard do that Quixel Mixer cannot?
Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Quixel Mixer covers Material blending, Megascans integration, Smart materials, Procedural tools. Both handle Local 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
Quixel Mixer: Is Quixel Mixer still available?

Quixel Mixer was discontinued on February 19, 2026. The final version 2023.1 is available for free download from the Epic Games launcher. It runs offline indefinitely but will receive no future updates or support.

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
Quixel Mixer: Can Quixel Mixer work offline?

Yes, version 2023.1 enables Quixel Mixer to run completely offline. Users can download and use the software offline indefinitely, though without future updates.

Source
Quixel Mixer: What is the current status of Megascans free access?

Quixel Megascans is no longer free for Unreal Engine users. Starting in 2025, Megascans assets are sold individually or included in Fab subscription tiers. The free-for-Unreal era ended at the close of 2024.

Source
Quixel Mixer: How does Quixel Mixer compare to Substance Painter?

Quixel Mixer excels for simplicity, photorealism, and Unreal Engine integration, but lacks a built-in baker unlike Substance 3D Painter. Substance Painter offers more customization and is an industry standard, while Mixer focused on streamlined PBR material creation.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Lumberyard

More on Quixel Mixer

Keep looking

Other head to heads