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Unreal Engine or Unity, that is the question. Both game engines became the two pillars on which the whole game industry stands, but the difference between Unity and Unreal remains crucial. According to 6Sense, Unreal Engine takes almost 16.39% of the market share, while Unity took 27.12% of the market share when the entire market of game engines grew from $3.15 billion in 2023 to $3.56 billion in 2024.
Image source: The Business Research Company
Developed by Epic Games, Unreal Engine became a factory producing high-quality assets with incredible, photorealistic visuals. It drives the entire industry forward and helps hundreds of companies, large corporations, and enterprises build immersive worlds with astonishing visuals and cinematic quality. Unreal Engine became one of the most crucial game development tools, as its community surpassed 7 million users.
Unity, developed by Unity Technologies, is a more flexible tool that covers more platforms, types, and genres of games. Traditionally, Unity became a perfect tool for crafting mobile games, 2D games, and cross-platform games, not demanding high-quality AAA-scale visuals. Across 1000 games on the mobile market, more than 71% will be developed on Unity. Detailed about the most popular gaming platforms. Learn how each platform is changing the world of gaming and influencing players.
Image source: Streams Charts, Statista 2024
So, in this thorough guide, we want to break down the Unity engine vs Unreal Engine and find out what is best for your specific project. Get ready and let’s move on!
Before approaching a game engine, game developers must conduct a thorough evaluation of their goals, ambitions, genre, type of game, capacity, experience in game development, computing resources, and actual budget. These factors are crucial to consider when choosing Unity engine vs Unreal Engine.
So, when choosing your game engine, ask yourself these questions:
Let’s look at each factor in detail!
The entry threshold is the first distinction you might encounter when approaching Unity or Unreal for beginners. Unity is well-known for its accessibility for newcomers, approachable interface, and user-friendly, intuitive design. Also, on the web, there is a vast amount of documentation that meticulously describes functions and workflows, guiding beginners on their efficient utilization of Unity. Doubled with a strong and supportive community around it, Unity became incredibly popular among indie studios and beginners in the game industry.
The Unreal Engine, on the other hand, is a more complex and sophisticated tool with high-fidelity rendering capabilities that require a developer’s solid coding knowledge, especially in C++. This makes Unreal Engine a steeper learning curve and a strong tool for beginners. However, to assist game developers, Epic Games released a Blueprint Visual Scripting system—a visual, node-based scripting system that allows users to avoid knowledge gaps and create gameplay features.
Therefore, when we talk about Unreal Engine vs Unity for beginners, we might point out that Unreal Engine will be a perfect choice for developers who:
While Unity will be a better option for:
Unity vs Unreal graphics capabilities is one of the most important differences between the two engines.
Unreal Engine is a robust tool for creating breathtaking, high-end visuals with incredible details. Its ray tracing capacity, lighting and shading features, and utilization of Lumens and Nanites made Unreal Engine a perfect factory of cinematic quality and AAA-scale virtual environments.
Defining the best engine for your project
Interesting Fact: Its capability to develop immersive 3D worlds from scratch makes Unreal Engine a popular tool not only in the game industry but also in the film industry and even architecture.
Unity is more specified on lower-spec devices and mobile games that are not so demanding of high-fidelity graphics. With Unity, it is much easier to develop 2D games or simple 3D environments, utilizing its three technologies:
Which engine is more suitable for your game Unity or Unreal Engine
Interesting Fact: Unity is also widely utilized not only in game development. Engineers in medicine and architecture also used Unity to create 2D and 3D models of their prototypes.
According to their Unity vs Unreal graphics characteristics, you opt to choose Unity when your project doesn’t need high-spec graphics and will mostly be released for mobile platforms. However, when AAA-scale and immersive visuals are your goals, Unreal Engine will be much more suitable for your needs. For more insights into choosing the right 3D software for your projects, you can check out this Maya vs Blender comparison to see which tool better fits your needs.
Unity vs Unreal performance differs significantly. Unreal Engine is a powerhouse of high-performance optimization tools that are capable of developing astonishing AAA-quality graphics. Games developed on Unreal Engine are released on PCs, Consoles, and high-spec devices, and mostly are advanced, expensive projects aiming to push the industry forward.
However, Unreal Engine’s powerful performance can be costly not only in terms of finances but also in terms of computing capabilities and hardware resources. its 3D, photorealistic graphics and rendering capabilities require significant technological capacity that not every studio or game developer can acquire.
Building games with Unity is much easier in terms of computing resource requirements. Its specialization on lower-end devices and mobile platforms makes it more accessible for game developers. Unity also develops light builds that are agile enough and can be efficiently deployed for various devices, starting from mobile to AR/VR platforms. And yet, Unity’s capabilities are limited in comparison with Unreal Engine and developing high-end cinematics is challenging.
Simply put, Unreal Engine is a machine gun that can produce complex, immersive, AAA-quality products that aim to dominate the entire industry. At the same time, Unity’s capabilities offer game developers an affordable platform for creating diverse games in small, medium, and, sometimes, AAA sizes for smaller devices.
When it comes to programming languages, Unity and Unreal Engine operate on different codes. For instance, to leverage Unity, game developers using C# which is quite accessible for non-tech specialists and well-known as beginner-friendly. Additionally, in the web there is a vast number of materials and tutorials in C#. So it’s easy to learn and easy to operate with Unity.
Unreal Engine against Unity requires users to have a basic understanding of C++ or Blueprint Visual Scripting. C++ is a complex and powerful language that allows developers to create great sequences and high performances, but it requires expertise and is quite hard to learn from scratch.
To address this issue, Epic Games provided developers with Blueprint Visual Scripting, which was supposed to assist them in building the visual logic of gameplay, avoiding the code creation. With this system, developers can prototype and design gameplay without coding expertise.
As a result, Unreal Engine becomes an agile tool for seasoned developers who can operate with it through C++ or through Blueprint Visual Scripting. But Unity keeps doors open to anyone who wants to make games and is ready to learn an accessible C# language.
Since more and more developers release cross-platform games, the ability to seamlessly develop cross-platform games on a single engine has become more and more valuable. Unity is designed specifically for developing cross-platform games that can be released for various devices, including both iOS and Android, VR/AR hardware, like Oculus and HoloLens, and most gaming consoles. Unity is a versatile tool capable of creating multi-platform games with the utilization of innovative technologies.
Things are different with Unreal Engine. This mighty instrument was built to create games for high-end platforms, such as PCs, next-gen consoles, and VR devices. Its capabilities empowered developers to utilize their ambitions to create cutting-edge games with high-fidelity graphical details for advanced platforms. Their goal is to make games that replicate reality in terms of visual appearance.
Both Unreal Engine and Unity can create games for various platforms. However, using an instrument for its intended purpose is always better. Unity is best for developing 2D or simple 3D cross-platform games, like match-3 games or platformers. It is also ideal when you focus on the style of your project and accessibility for players over its scale or realistic visuals.
But when you need to develop a high-scale, complex game with advanced graphics and plan to release it on PCs, PlayStation, and Xbox, Unreal Engine is your tool. It can perfectly handle realistic rendering, building 3D assets, and creating detailed pictures.
Additionally, when there is a question of Unity vs Unreal for mobile games, the answer is clear—it’s Unity.
Marketplaces are an important part of the game engine. At the market, developers can find additional assets required for their projects. Both Unreal Engine and Unity have their own marketplaces which have similarities and differences.
In Unity Asset Store, you can find a huge number of free and paid assets, plugins, and tools for 2D and 3D projects. You can find templates for textures, models, animations, project references, and documentation, as well as Generative AI and machine learning features, Web3, and VFX assets. Unity Asset Store has a user-friendly interface that allows developers to easily find required packages.
Unity Asset Store: searching plugins for your game build on Unity
Fab—former Unreal Marketplace—also offers developers a vast pool of high-fidelity assets that can bring your game to a whole new level. And yet, those positions can be quite costly, especially in comparison with Unity Asset Store.
Unreal Marketplace: high-level plugins for your game
So, when Unity offers users a wide variety of free and paid assets for any kind of project, Unreal Engine provides users with assets of much more sophisticated quality for a higher price. Developers should keep in mind these differences, establish their priorities, and choose wisely between Unity or Unreal Engine.
Unreal Engine and Unity pricing models that can be adjusted according to their project’s needs. For instance, Unity offers indie developers whose annual revenue is no more than $200.000 a completely free version, while bigger developers should subscribe to one of Unity’s paid versions:
Epic Games provides a royalty-based pricing model for Unreal Engine, when it can be utilized for free, but they take 5% of the revenue after threshold. Through this pricing model, Epic Games engages indie studios as it allows them to optimize costs. Additionally, Epic Games has different subscription models for the film industry and other non-gaming companies.
Your project budget, team size, and projected revenue are the key factors on which you should choose Unity vs Unreal pricing. According to their costs and licensing, Unity is more appropriate for indie developers who don’t expect golden mountains from their products and prefer subscription models.
Unreal Engine will be a better choice for enterprises that avoid upfront costs but are ready to share the revenue after the release of the game. It’s becoming a great choice for those who expect significant income from their products.
In terms of learning resources and user support, Unreal Engine vs Unity Engine both provide developers with comprehensive documentation, but their approaches differ.
Unity officially provides developers with detailed tutorials for beginners, describing every button of the intuitive interface and every stage of asset development. They also conduct training programs and courses for newcomers, teaching basic C# knowledge and how to script, integrate features, optimize them, and troubleshoot.
Additionally, Unity relies heavily on a strong and supportive developer community on forums and Discord groups, where they exchange experiences and assist each other in finding solutions.
Unity Engine Tip For instance, you can download and read the comprehensive UI Toolkit to learn how to develop UI in Unity.
Epic Games also establishes an official support ecosystem for users in the form of in-depth documentation, regularly conducted webinars, and diverse learning programs. For instance, they’ve developed an Unreal Academy—an educational program designed to teach users Unreal Engine extensive utilization. Unreal Online Learning provides users with a comprehensive library of tutorials that teach Blueprint Script, C++ code, and Unreal Engine operations.
Unreal Engine also has a community of users who are ready to answer your queries on forums and Epic’s AnswerHub with a technical Q&A form.
Unreal Engine Tip Epic Games released a free package of samples showcasing how different features and assets in Unreal Engine work, simplifying overall engine utilization. Use it to learn Unreal Engine!
When comparing the support systems of both engines, we’ll find that if you’re looking for more sophisticated, in-depth learning of tools and workflows for creating high-quality, complex assets, it’s better to opt for Unreal Engine. It’s better to learn Unity in the case of searching for a more accessible tool with a vast amount of entry-level guidelines.
Let’s sum up all that we’ve talked about Unity and define the advantages and disadvantages of Unity engine. One of the key strengths of Unity is its ability to power some of the most famous mobile games made with Unity, showcasing its versatility and dominance in the gaming market.
Summarizing Unreal Engine characteristics, we identify for you this list of pros and cons. One of the engine’s standout achievements is its ability to support the creation of popular games made with Unreal Engine, which highlights its unmatched capabilities for indie and AAA developers alike.
Unreal Engine vs unity which is better? Of course, everything relies on your specific project, its goal, its style, and your technical expertise, capabilities, and resources. To make the right decision, it’s essential to understand how to choose a game engine that aligns with your project’s requirements and vision. Before approaching a toolset and choosing an Unreal Engine or Unity, developers must conduct a thorough evaluation of capacity and project requirements. And first, you must define…
Game genre and type are the first things game developers must consider before choosing an engine. Unity and Unreal Engine draw a clear line in the genres they aim for.
Unity is a versatile tool that is capable of developing diverse 2D and 3D games and produces lightweight builds, accessible for mobile games and indie projects specified on lower-end devices. The modular structure of Unity empowers developers to create a wide range of games:
Unreal Engine, on the contrary, is mostly used in the development of complex 3D immersive worlds with high-end graphics and impressive cinematics. Its powerful rendering allows developers to create a range of large-scale AAA games like:
Understanding the most popular genre of video games can also influence engine selection. For instance, if your ambition is to build a AAA multiplayer game with astonishing animations and cinematics, you definitely should utilize Unreal Engine capabilities. But if your goal is to develop a cross-platform puzzle game or a cozy platformer for mobiles, Unity is the most suitable tool for that.
The last difference between Unity and Unreal Engine is your team size and their level of expertise. Unity’s user-friendly design, approachable learning curve, and community support make it a perfect solution for small indie studios and solo developers. Also, indie teams prefer Unity for the easy-to-learn C# language and a vast amount of tutorials available on the web.
Unreal Engine was developed for advancements in the market and ambitious projects aimed to bring the industry forward. It’s like a spaceship that requires a significant education to operate it. Its C++ programming language needs the experience of seasoned 3D artists, senior engineers, animators, and technical directors. Blueprint Visual Scripting, created to lower the entry threshold, allows non-technical specialists to utilize Unreal Engine, and yet it is still a powerful and complex instrument.
To sum up, Unity is mostly an engine for solo developers and small indie studios that prioritize flexibility, simplicity and low entry threshold, and focus on developing prototypes, small games, and low-scale projects. And Unreal Engine preferred by large enterprises with professional teams who develop games for years and have extensive experience.
Here at Fgfactory, we possess extensive experience in both engines, providing our clients and partners with solid full-cycle game development services and co-development model. We’ve developed different approaches for different project types to cover all our client’s needs with our expertise and crafty minds.
For projects focusing on mobile platforms, whether it’s iOS, Android mobile back-end, or non-demanding PCs, we assign a team of experts in Unity and C#, while for complex projects with priority on high-end PCs and consoles, we assign professionals in Unreal Engine. Follow the link to know more about our mobile game development services.
We thoroughly evaluate our client’s projects, limits, and requirements to ensure we choose the right tool to utilize their goals.
Across the latest projects we executed on Unity, you may find:
In Unreal Engine, we’ve following case studies, showcasing our expertise in handling complex projects
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