Unreal Engine and Unity are currently two of the most popular gaming engines among independent and AAA game creators. With their low or no price tags, these gaming engines could completely transform the market in a short time.
Virtual reality headsets are now more widely available than ever before. Their underlying technology and software produce increasingly immersive experiences for users.
In 2021 the worldwide virtual reality business and mobile game app development were worth $11.64 billion. The market is estimated to increase at a CAGR of 45.2%, from $16.67 billion in 2022 to $227.34 billion by 2029.
Even though both platforms continue to gain market share, there are some significant distinctions besides pricing.
Even if you’re a professional game developer, this post will assist you in recognizing the difference between these two famous engines and help you pick the best one for your project.
Page Contents
- 1 What Makes VR Mobile App Game Development Unique?
- 2 Unreal vs. Unity: A Comparison of VR Development Engines
- 3 Features of Unity Engine
What Makes VR Mobile App Game Development Unique?
Variety in hardware and software has long been a problem for mobile game app development companies. Code and assets that operate on a specific platform might not function on another.
Because of this, developers are forced to test their games thoroughly and solve any flaws that appear. Fortunately, engines like Unreal and Unity make the process easier, using methods to ensure that code can be used on several platforms.
VR adds a degree of complexity to the production of video games, with VR headsets available in various forms factors. Virtual reality games rely on multiple factors, including image resolution, processing capabilities, and control mechanisms.
As a result, picking the best engine for your projects is critical.
Image Resolution:
Dual HD or Ultra HD monitors are common in VR headsets. Complex coding is needed to ensure that the pictures on each monitor are synchronized and rendered appropriately.
Processing Capability:
There is a wide range of VR gear, some of which use PC components, while others use handsets or built-in processors. The devices your game may be played on can be determined by the engine you use.
Control Procedures:
Virtual reality games may be played using traditional input devices like controllers, keyboards, and mice, but many more cutting-edge games use motion control.
Unreal vs. Unity: A Comparison of VR Development Engines
Choosing between Unreal and Unity for VR creation requires an awareness of both engines’ capabilities. Each offers general-purpose functionality that may be used for various applications, as well as VR-specific ones.
Unreal Engine: Overview
With the release of the popular first-person shooter game Unreal in 1998, the Unreal Engine was introduced. Unreal was created by Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite.
More than a quarter of the most popular PC games on Steam use the Unreal Engine.
- Compatible platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 4, 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, OpenXR, Google Stadia, etc.
- Editing software: Unreal Editor/UDK.
- Supported programming languages: C++ and Blueprint Visual Scripting.
Unity: Overview
Compared to Unreal Engine, Unity was introduced in 2005 and had many of the same capabilities. This engine powers 11% of the most popular games on Steam, making it a significant force in the industry.
- Compatible platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 4, 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, Oculus, PlayStation VR, etc.
- Supported programming languages: C#, Unity Visual Scripting, and external DLLs.
- Editing software: Unity Editor.
Features of Unity Engine
Virtual Reality (VR) programming may benefit from a wide range of tools provided by Unity. The number of ways through which unity 3d game development can be beneficial for developers is listed below:
Accessibility
Developers of all skill levels may join the Unity community. It’s easy to follow the comprehensive documentation.
This makes it significantly more approachable than other game creation engines, providing you the opportunity to learn while you construct your games.
Extensive Platform Deployment
With Unity, you can create games for various platforms, including PCs, consoles, mobile devices, and VR headsets. Many popular technologies, like Oculus, ARCore, and Windows, are supported by Unity’s XR SDK.
Using this method, you may publish games that function with virtual reality headsets out of the box.
Exceptional Capability
You may use the Unity High-Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) to generate stunning images without losing speed. This means that Unity may be used to create mobile VR games that are just as engaging as their PC and console versions.
Toolkits For Quick and Easy Setup
There are several advantages to using a pre-written engine like Unity. This toolkit will help you save time and money while creating VR and AR games and other mixed-reality experiences.
Tools For Mobile Development
Unity is a popular choice for top mobile game app developers. Virtual Reality (VR) games are becoming increasingly accessible on smartphones, and Unity allows you to use these innovations fully.
Features of Unreal Engine
Even though Unreal Engine is one of the most widely used game creation tools, how well-suited is it to virtual reality?
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve listed some of Unreels’ most crucial VR development capabilities below:
Full XR Support
There are three types of extended reality: augmented/virtual/mixed reality. A wide variety of XR platforms are supported by Unreal Engine, making it possible to make games of many kinds.
Extensive Platform Access
Similar to Unity, Unreal covers PCs, consoles, and a variety of mobile platforms. As a result, it’s an excellent option for creating games that run on various platforms.
Although Unreal lacks Unity’s mobile development history, it may be used to produce games for smaller devices like smartphones and tablets.
Intuitive Graphics
One of Unreal’s key selling points has always been its high-quality visuals. With the proper hardware, Unreal can produce spectacular effects even if it’s more difficult to tune than engines like Unity.
This is ideal for virtual reality experiences and gaming.
Programming in C++
Virtual Reality (VR) developers like Unreal’s native C++ development capabilities. You may have more control over the code you produce with these languages, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Unity vs. Unreal Engine: Which Is the Best for VR?
As a game creator, you may use any of these tools to create aesthetically stunning and compelling games, but choosing one depends on a few variables.
First and foremost, take into account the programming language. If you want to get right in and work with a language, you’re already comfortable with; Unity is the platform for you.
The Unreal Engine may be a better option if you’re more comfortable with C++ and don’t mind spending time learning Blueprint.
The second consideration is the cost. Due to the volatile nature of revenue from gaming, many independent game creators may choose Unity’s upfront fee over a royalty-based model.
Many other developers, on the other hand, don’t mind paying a 5% royalty in exchange for the superior performance and functionality of Unreal Engine. Look closely at your budget and compare these platforms to see which fits your needs better.
Last but not least, processing and rendering times in Unity are slightly longer than in Unreal Engine. Even if you have plenty of time to make a game, Unreal Engine’s lightning-fast rendering speeds may be an advantage if you’re a developer on a tight schedule.
Conclusion
Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming increasingly popular, making it an attractive choice for game developers. Before beginning a VR gaming project, you must choose the appropriate engine, keeping the points mentioned above in mind.
Finally, you must hire mobile game developers with extensive experience in this field to create a product having the potential to disrupt the industry.
Hardik Parmar
Hardik Parmar has been working with Expert App Devs an India-based professional mobile app development company. Expert App Devs provide end-to-end mobile and IoT solutions as per the client’s business requirements.