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Unreal Engine

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Company health

Employee growth
21% increase in the last year
Web traffic
129% increase in the last quarter
Financing
January 2024 - $8B

Ratings

G2
4.5/5
(140)
TrustPilot
3.0/5
(9)

Unreal Engine description

Unreal Engine is a powerful 3D creation tool used to develop video games, simulations, and interactive experiences. Originally designed for game development, its features allow for high-quality visuals, realistic physics, and immersive environments. Unreal Engine is free to use for individuals and companies earning under $1 million in revenue, with royalties applied to game developers after that threshold. Beyond gaming, Unreal Engine is utilized in industries such as film, architecture, and automotive design for visualization and simulation purposes.


Who is Unreal Engine best for

Unreal Engine empowers developers to craft stunning visuals and immersive experiences. It's praised for its Blueprint visual scripting and real-time rendering, but users note a steep learning curve and high system requirements. From indie devs to AAA studios, Unreal Engine fuels creativity across various industries.

  • Best for small, medium, and large companies seeking a robust 3D creation tool.

  • Ideal for game development, but also applicable to media, entertainment, and software development.


Unreal Engine features

Supported

Unreal Engine has a built-in physics engine, PhysX, for realistic interactions.

Supported

Unreal Engine supports visual scripting with Blueprints.

Supported

Unreal Engine allows exporting to multiple platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Supported

Unreal Engine supports keyframe animation for objects, characters, and materials.

Supported

Unreal Engine leverages both CPU and GPU to render photorealistic visuals quickly, but optimization is crucial.

Supported

Unreal Engine supports importing, animating 3D models, and creating effects.

Supported

Unreal Engine offers robust world-building tools, including World Partition and Data Layers.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Ease of Use

Rather positive
+0.64

Reliability and Performance

Neutral
-0.14

Ease of Implementation

Neutral
+0.14

Unreal Engine reviews

We've summarised 149 Unreal Engine reviews (Unreal Engine TrustPilot reviews and Unreal Engine G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Unreal Engine
  • Stunning graphics and immersive environments.
  • Blueprint visual scripting system is accessible and powerful.
  • Real-time rendering allows for rapid prototyping and iteration.
  • Extensive customization options for various projects.
  • Large and active community provides support and resources.
Cons of Unreal Engine
  • High system requirements make it inaccessible for users with less powerful hardware.
  • Steep learning curve, especially for beginners unfamiliar with game engines.
  • Large project file sizes can lead to storage issues.
  • Occasional bugs and crashes can disrupt workflow.
  • Frequent updates can introduce compatibility issues and require relearning.

Unreal Engine pricing

The commentary is based on 20 reviews from Unreal Engine G2 reviews.

Unreal Engine offers different licensing options based on revenue and usage. For those earning under $1 million, it's free with royalties applied after exceeding that limit for game developers. Businesses over $1 million in revenue have royalty-based or seat-based options. Royalty-based is for games and applications licensed to end-users, requiring a 5% royalty on revenue above $1 million (Epic Games Store sales are royalty-free). Seat-based licensing is for other commercial uses, costing $1,850 per seat per year, including Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, and RealityCapture licenses. Epic Direct Support is available for 10 or more seats.

See the Unreal Engine pricing page.

  • Unreal Engine has a free plan.

  • Unreal Engine has a free trial.

Free
Free

Access to the source code. All platforms & features. Forums and documentation on the Epic Developer Community.

Royalty-based
Custom

All lifetime gross revenue above $1M that is directly attributable to the UE product, regardless of who collects it, will be subject to a 5% royalty. Revenues generated from sales in the Epic Games Store are royalty-free.

Seat-based
$1850 per user/year

Annual License to Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, and RealityCapture.


Unreal Engine alternatives

  • Logo of Blender
    unreal-engine vs Blender
    Free 3D creation suite. Model, animate, render. Anything you can imagine.
    Read more
  • Logo of GDevelop
    GDevelop
    No-code game creation: easy, fast, open-source, cross-platform.
    Read more
  • Logo of Unity
    unreal-engine vs Unity
    Create and deploy interactive 2D and 3D experiences, mainly games.
    Read more
  • Logo of Houdini
    Houdini
    3D animation and VFX powerhouse. Procedural workflow for stunning visuals.
    Read more
  • Logo of Maya
    Maya
    3D animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software for professionals.
    Read more
  • Logo of KeyShot
    KeyShot
    Realistic 3D product visuals made simple and fast.
    Read more

Unreal Engine FAQ

  • What is Unreal Engine and what does Unreal Engine do?

    Unreal Engine is a real-time 3D creation tool used to develop video games, simulations, and interactive experiences. Its features include photorealistic rendering, robust physics, and visual scripting. Free for projects under $1 million in revenue, Unreal Engine finds applications in various industries beyond gaming, such as film and architecture.

  • How does Unreal Engine integrate with other tools?

    Unreal Engine integrates with other tools through plugins and APIs. It supports popular software like Autodesk Maya and 3ds Max, enhancing workflows for 3D modeling and animation. Its open architecture allows developers to create custom integrations, expanding its functionality.

  • What the main competitors of Unreal Engine?

    Top Unreal Engine competitors include Unity, known for its versatile platform and ease of use; Blender, a free and open-source option; and Godot, another free and open-source choice popular for 2D game development. Other alternatives include Vyond and MATLAB.

  • Is Unreal Engine legit?

    Yes, Unreal Engine is safe and legitimate software. It's a popular 3D creation tool used by game developers, filmmakers, architects, and other professionals for high-quality visuals and immersive experiences. It has a large community and extensive resources.

  • How much does Unreal Engine cost?

    Unreal Engine's pricing depends on your use case. It's free for projects under $1 million in gross revenue, with a 5% royalty after that. For projects exceeding $1 million, there's a $1,850/seat/year option. Is Unreal Engine worth it? It's free to try, so explore its powerful features and decide for yourself!

  • Is Unreal Engine customer service good?

    Unreal Engine's customer service receives mixed reviews. Some users praise the helpful tutorials and supportive community, while others find the support lacking and problem resolution slow, especially compared to competitors with larger user bases.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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