Our verdict: Unreal Engine offers high-end real-time graphics, Blueprint visual scripting and C++ source access at no upfront cost. Games pay a 5% royalty only after $1 million in lifetime gross revenue. It needs a powerful PC, lots of disk space and an Epic Games account.
About Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is installed through the Epic Games Launcher: after signing in with an Epic Games account, open the Unreal Engine tab and install the latest version. The full C++ source code is also available on GitHub once you link your Epic and GitHub accounts. Epic lists Windows 10 64-bit, a quad-core 2.5 GHz CPU, 8 GB of RAM and a DirectX 11 or 12 graphics card as the minimum.
The engine is free for game developers, individuals and small businesses with less than $1 million USD in annual gross revenue, and for schools without revenue limits. For games and apps that ship engine code to end users, Epic takes a 5% royalty on lifetime gross revenue above $1 million per product, and Epic Games Store sales are royalty-free. Companies above $1 million using it for non-game work, such as film or visualization, pay $1,850 per seat per year.
What it does well
- Real-time rendering. High-end lighting and geometry systems for games, film and visualization.
- Blueprint visual scripting. Builds gameplay logic with node graphs, no C++ required.
- C++ source access. Full engine source code on GitHub for custom builds.
- Multiplatform. Targets PC, consoles, mobile and XR from one project.
- Sample projects. Free templates and samples such as Lyra to learn from.
Who it is for
Good fit
Game developers, 3D artists and studios aiming for high-end visuals, plus students learning game development.
Look elsewhere
Low-end PCs, small 2D projects and anyone who does not want an Epic Games account.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free to start, royalties only above $1M
- Top-tier real-time graphics
- Blueprints for coding without C++
- Full source code access
Cons
- Requires the Epic Games Launcher and an Epic account
- Heavy on disk space, RAM and GPU
- Steep learning curve for beginners
How to install Unreal Engine
Download the Epic Games Launcher from the Unreal Engine download page, sign in or create an Epic Games account, then install the engine from the Unreal Engine tab. Each engine version needs tens of gigabytes of disk space. Install Visual Studio with the C++ game development workload for C++ projects.
Questions about Unreal Engine
Is Unreal Engine free?
Yes, for most users. Games pay a 5% royalty only on lifetime gross revenue above $1 million per product, and non-game companies earning over $1 million a year pay $1,850 per seat per year.
Do I need the Epic Games Launcher?
Yes, for the prebuilt engine. The alternative is building it from source on GitHub after linking your Epic account.
Do sales on the Epic Games Store count toward royalties?
No. Epic states that revenue from sales in the Epic Games Store is royalty-free.
