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Unreal Engine

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Free AAA-grade real-time 3D engine with a 5% royalty above $1M revenue

Augmented Reality Development Platforms Game Development Software Game Engine Software
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  • Deployment On Premises
  • Starting price Free
  • Free trial Not offered
  • Best for Freelancers, Startups, SMEs

What is Unreal Engine?

Unreal Engine is a real-time 3D engine from Epic Games used to build video games, film and TV visuals, architectural visualization, and other interactive content. It ships with the Lumen dynamic lighting system, Nanite virtualized geometry for extremely detailed models, and the Blueprint visual scripting system alongside full C++ source code access on GitHub.

For games, revenue up to $1 million per title is royalty-free; revenue above that carries a 5% royalty, though sales through the Epic Games Store are exempt. Non-game commercial use by companies earning over $1 million annually requires an Unreal Engine for Creators seat subscription. The engine supports Windows and macOS development with deployment to consoles, mobile, PC, and VR/AR headsets.

Key Features of Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine lists 10 documented features, including Lumen dynamic global illumination, Nanite virtualized geometry and Blueprint visual scripting. The list below covers what the product does rather than how it is marketed.

  • Lumen dynamic global illumination
  • Nanite virtualized geometry
  • Blueprint visual scripting
  • MetaHuman character creation
  • Full C++ engine source access
  • Sequencer cinematic and animation tools
  • Built-in multiplayer and networking framework
  • Cross-platform deployment to PC, consoles, mobile, and VR/AR
  • Fab marketplace for assets and plugins
  • Chaos physics simulation

Unreal Engine Pricing

Unreal Engine lists 2 plans, starting free and running to $1,850.

Free (Games)

Free

Up to $1M lifetime gross revenue

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Full engine access and source code on all supported platforms; a 5% royalty applies only to revenue above $1M attributable to Unreal Engine, and Epic Games Store sales are royalty-free.

Unreal Engine for Creators

$1,850/seat/year

Companies earning over $1M annual revenue using UE for non-game commercial work

Request pricing

Per-seat subscription for architecture, automotive, broadcast, and similar enterprise visualization use; includes Twinmotion and RealityCapture.

Unreal Engine Specifications

Unreal Engine is available on Windows and macOS and has iOS and Android apps. It offers an API and has a free plan.

Deployment
  • On Premises
Billing cycle
Transaction
Desktop
  • Windows
  • macOS
Mobile
  • iOS
  • Android
Languages
  • English
Built for
  • Freelancers
  • Startups
  • SMEs
  • Agencies
  • Enterprises
Support
  • Email
  • Tickets
  • Training
Integrations
Perforce, Git, Jira, Visual Studio, JetBrains Rider, Autodesk Maya, Blender, Substance 3D, Steamworks, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Fab Marketplace
Public API
Yes
Free trial
No
Free plan
Yes
Runs in browser
No
Customisable
Yes
Website
unrealengine.com

Unreal Engine Videos

Unreal Engine Screenshots

Unreal Engine screenshot 1

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Unreal Engine FAQs

Yes. Unreal Engine is free to download, learn with, and release games with, and no fee is owed until a title earns over $1 million in lifetime gross revenue.

A 5% royalty applies to gross revenue above $1 million that is attributable to the Unreal Engine product. Revenue from sales on the Epic Games Store is exempt from this royalty.

Companies earning over $1 million annually that use Unreal Engine for non-game commercial work such as architecture or automotive visualization need an Unreal Engine for Creators seat at $1,850 per seat per year.

Yes. Full C++ source code is available to download and modify through Epic's GitHub repository for registered developers.

Games built in Unreal Engine can be deployed to Windows, macOS, major consoles, mobile devices, and VR/AR headsets, though the editor itself runs on Windows and macOS.