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Unreal Engine
by Epic Games
by Epic Games
Profile Information Last updated on: 19 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 19 July 2024
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by Epic Games
by Epic Games
Profile Information Last updated on: 19 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 19 July 2024
Unreal Engine is a powerful real-time 3D creation tool used to bring amazing experiences to life. The typical implementation process involves several steps:
1. Learning Unreal Engine: Unreal Engine provides hundreds of hours of free online learning content, an extensive library of webinars, and options for instructor-led training to help creators of all levels learn the engine.
2. Building from Source: Developers can build Unreal Engine from source by running the GenerateProjectFiles command to set up project files, then loading the project into an IDE like XCode.
3. Deploying the Engine: Teams need to decide how to deploy Unreal Engine to developers and creatives. Options include using an installed build, submitting binaries to Perforce, or using UnrealGameSync (UGS)[4].
4. Compiling Game Projects: Unreal Engine uses a custom building method via the UnrealBuildTool to handle compiling the project and linking it with the engine. This allows developers to simply build the project through the standard Visual Studio or XCode build workflow.
The time it takes to implement Unreal Engine depends on the complexity of the project and the experience level of the team. Simple prototypes can be built rapidly using Unreal's visual scripting system, while more complex games require significant programming in C++. On average, a small team of experienced Unreal developers can build a simple game in 6-12 months, while a large-scale AAA title may take 2-3 years or more.
Yes, Unreal Engine can be highly customized to fit specific business needs:
- Unreal Engine developer teams have extensive expertise in C++, Blueprints, and the latest UE platform to deliver immersive business applications. Since the engine can be rebuilt from source, there is no limit to the customization that can be brought to a project.
- Unreal Engine provides powerful tools for flexibility in building material shaders and texturing using advanced shading models, path tracers, and color composition layouts. This allows for creating realistic outdoor and indoor lighting effects customized to exact specifications.
- Unreal Engine's Blueprint visual scripting and C++ can be used to code applications with UE developers who have experience in server management and multiplayer development. This enables customizing the engine for specific business needs.
- Unreal Engine's animation and mesh editing tools allow highly detailed customized objects and characters to be developed, including buildings, landscapes, people, and animals. These can be brought to life using the engine's cutting-edge animation capabilities.
- Unreal Engine's MetaHuman tool allows customizing and animating highly realistic digital human characters for use in projects[4]. RealityCapture can produce high-fidelity 3D scans of real-world objects and environments for importing into the engine[4].
Additional costs associated with using Unreal Engine include:
1. Royalty Fees: Unreal Engine requires a 5% royalty fee on gross revenue above $1 million per year for published games and applications. This fee is due each quarter as long as the product remains for sale or continues to generate more than $10,000 in a quarter[4].
2. Custom Licenses: Large developers can negotiate custom license agreements, which may include premium support, private training, and/or custom licensing terms. These licenses start at $1,500 per seat per year for non-gaming professionals and $1,850 per seat per year for gaming professionals[4].
3. Hardware Requirements: Developers may need to invest in additional hardware or software products if they do not already have compatible systems that meet the requirements for running and developing with Unreal Engine. This includes high-end graphics cards for features like Nanite, Virtual Shadow Maps, and Lumen.
4. Visual Studio Licensing: While Visual Studio Community is free for commercial use, larger teams may need to purchase Visual Studio Professional or Enterprise licenses, which can add to the overall cost.
5. Epic Direct Support: This is an additional purchase available for licensees with 10 or more seats, providing dedicated professional support.
6. Plugins and Assets: Developers may need to purchase additional plugins or assets to enhance their projects, which can add to the overall cost[4].
These costs are in addition to the initial license fees and royalties, and they can vary depending on the specific needs and scale of the project.
Unreal Engine offers a variety of training and support options for new users:
Learning Resources
- Hundreds of hours of free online learning content, including tutorials, documentation, and sample projects
- An extensive library of webinars covering a wide range of topics
- Options for instructor-led training from Epic Games and partners
Community Support
- Access to an inspirational community of Unreal creators who build cutting-edge experiences and support each other
- Community-based support through forums, Q&A, and social channels
Professional Support
- Comprehensive reference documentation and instructional guides
- Options for dedicated professional support, including Epic Direct Support for licensees with 10 or more seats
Deployment Support
- Guidance on building Unreal Engine from source and compiling game projects
- Best practices for deploying the engine to developers, such as using installed builds, submitting binaries to Perforce, or using UnrealGameSync
Unreal Engine provides several security measures to protect data:
1. Secure Communication: Unreal Engine supports encrypted connections using protocols like SSL/TLS to ensure all data transmitted between clients and servers is encrypted, protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks.
2. Encryption: Unreal Engine projects should implement encryption for data at rest and in transit, using secure authentication methods and following best practices for data privacy and compliance with regulations like GDPR[4].
3. Authentication and Authorization: Robust authentication and authorization mechanisms should be implemented, such as role-based access control (RBAC) to manage user permissions and control access to features and data.
4. Secure Coding Practices: Following secure coding practices, regularly updating Unreal Engine and third-party plugins, and conducting static code analysis using tools like SonarQube, Coverity, and HP Fortify can help identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities.
5. Server Security: Unreal Engine servers should be secured using firewalls, intrusion detection systems, DDoS protection strategies, and by ensuring software and plugins are up-to-date. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should also be conducted.
6. Secure Storage: User data should be protected by implementing encryption, secure authentication methods, and following best practices for data privacy and compliance with regulations[4].
7. Third-Party Services: Unreal Engine projects can integrate third-party authentication services like Auth0 or Firebase Authentication to manage user authentication and authorization securely.
By implementing these security measures, Unreal Engine projects can better protect sensitive data and user information from unauthorized access and breaches, maintaining trust and integrity.
Unreal Engine releases updates on a regular cadence to continuously improve the product and meet user needs. The update process is managed by the Unreal Engine product team, which includes product managers who oversee the entire update lifecycle from ideation to deployment.
Some key points about Unreal Engine's product update process:
- Unreal Engine 5.3 was recently released, bringing numerous wide-ranging improvements and exciting new experimental features. This shows the engine is updated on a regular basis.
- Product managers at Epic Games determine what updates are needed, prioritize them based on business and customer needs, and coordinate with development, design, and marketing teams to implement them.
- The product team likely follows a product management process that includes defining product strategy, creating a roadmap, prioritizing features, and planning releases.
- Unreal Engine provides comprehensive reference documentation, instructional guides, and options for dedicated professional support to help users stay up-to-date with new features and improvements.
Unreal Engine does not appear to have a publicly available policy specifically addressing data ownership and portability. However, some key points can be inferred:
1. Unreal Engine is a game engine and development platform, not a service that stores user data. The data ownership and portability considerations are more relevant for games and applications built using the engine.
2. As a development platform, Unreal Engine provides tools and APIs that allow developers to implement data ownership and portability features in their games and apps as needed. This includes features for secure data storage, authentication, and encryption.
3. Developers building games and apps with Unreal Engine are responsible for following data protection regulations like GDPR, implementing secure coding practices, and providing users with appropriate data rights and controls[4].
4. Unreal Engine itself does not designate individuals as owners of their personal data. However, it provides developers with tools to enable user rights like data access, portability, and erasure in compliance with regulations.
5. The data ownership and portability policies for games and apps built with Unreal Engine are determined by the individual developers and publishers, not by Epic Games as the engine provider[4].
Unreal Engine does not appear to have specific terms or policies for scaling up or down as organizational needs change. A few key points:
- Unreal Engine is a game engine and development platform, not a service with a subscription model. The terms for scaling likely depend on the specific license agreement.
- Unreal Engine offers a royalty-based licensing model where developers pay 5% of gross revenue above $1 million per year for published games and applications. This allows scaling up or down based on revenue.
- For larger teams, Unreal Engine offers custom license agreements that can be negotiated, which may include options to scale up or down the number of seats as needed.
- The engine itself provides tools and APIs that allow developers to build games and applications that can scale to meet changing organizational needs. However, the terms for scaling the development team's access to the engine are not specified.
Here are the key terms and conditions for contract renewal and cancellation for Unreal Engine:
Subscription Renewal
- Unreal Engine subscriptions are continuous until you cancel them.
- When you renew your subscription after a period of cancellation, you'll have access to all updates and content you may have missed in the interim.
- Renewing your subscription gives you access to current updates as they happen, including bug fixes and feature updates.
Subscription Cancellation
- You can cancel your Unreal Engine subscription at any time.
- When you cancel your subscription, you won't receive access to future releases of Unreal Engine, however your login will remain active[4].
- You are welcome to continue using the engine without renewing your subscription for as long as you need.
- If you cancel your subscription, you can renew it later to regain access to updates and the Unreal Engine Marketplace.
Revenue Share
- Unreal Engine has a 5% royalty-based licensing model where developers pay 5% of gross revenue above $1 million per year for published games and applications[4].
- This revenue share kicks in when you release a game that you and others enjoy, and decide to make it available for sale.
Unreal Engine does not appear to explicitly state that it meets any specific compliance standards. However, the following points are relevant:
- Developers using Unreal Engine are responsible for ensuring their products comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and rules. This suggests Unreal Engine itself does not guarantee compliance.
- The Unreal Engine EULA states that developers must verify their product doesn't combine Unreal Engine code with "Copyleft" open-source licenses that could affect compliance.
- Unreal Engine provides tools and APIs that allow developers to implement features for secure data storage, authentication, and encryption. This enables developers to build applications that meet data protection regulations like GDPR.
- The Unreal Engine Marketplace has guidelines that prohibit content that is offensive, vulgar, defaming, or contains sensitive subject matter like hate speech[4]. This helps maintain a compliant marketplace.
- Unreal Engine supports encrypted connections using protocols like SSL/TLS to ensure data transmitted between clients and servers is encrypted. This helps with compliance.
By Epic Games