Are 3D Production Tools Profitable? An In-Depth Look at the Unreal Engine

What is Unreal Engine?

UE (Unreal Engine) is one of the most advanced game engines in the world, developed by Epic Games, and is known for its stunning, photo-realistic graphics.

A game engine is software that handles and streamlines the key processes commonly used in game production. In simple terms, it allows you to easily create 3D models of elements like nature, houses, and humans, which are commonly needed in various 3D games.

Unreal Engine, which first appeared in the 1998 game "Unreal," is one of several game engines available, and it is widely used in numerous games. What’s more, it’s very popular because it’s available for free. Although it's called a game engine, it can also be used for creating 3D videos and other media.

UE is developed by Epic Games, a U.S.-based game company known for titles like "Fortnite." UE is not only used in Fortnite, which is run by Epic, but also in other popular titles from other companies, such as "Final Fantasy VII Remake" and "Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age." It seems to be quite a major engine in the world of game development.

Some key features of UE include "the Blueprint system, which allows game development even with minimal programming knowledge or experience," "photo-realistic graphics," "the fact that all features are free to use," and "its applications beyond just game development."

However, while all features are free, there’s a rule that if the total revenue from a game or app created using UE exceeds $1 million, a 5% royalty must be paid. Essentially, it’s a "pay a share if you hit it big" type of model.

That said, it's not very realistic for a complete beginner to create something that surpasses this revenue mark, so it’s probably not something most people need to worry about.

List of Typical Game Engines

As for game engines, it seems that UE and “Unity” are the most famous. According to statistical data, among the engines used in games released on Steam (a platform for selling games for PCs), UE is in first place with a 23% share, and Unity is in second place with an 11% share. These figures are expected to increase further if home video games and smartphone applications are included.

Unity, which is in second place in terms of market share, is inferior to UE in terms of graphics, but is said to be suitable for smartphone application development and small-scale development. In other words, there is a division between UE for higher quality games and Unity for smartphone apps of moderate quality.

In the case of Unity, only some functions are free, but if you want to develop and release a game with multiple developers, you will need to register for the paid version. Furthermore, the company has announced that it will revise its fees next year, and in addition to the existing flat fees, it appears that royalty payments based on revenue and the number of installations will be required.

Further investigation revealed that Unity development requires proficiency in the C# programming language, while UE will require the C++ programming language. However, UE has a feature called “Blueprints” that allows for some development even if you are not that skilled in programming.

In addition, it seems that programming skills are not necessary to the extent of combining assets that are prepared in advance for Unity. However, it is said that you need to have some knowledge of programming to be able to use Unity.

Does this mean that it is impossible for someone without any programming knowledge to create something with UE from scratch?

Features of Unreal Engine

The reason Unreal Engine stands out from other engines lies in its real-time rendering capabilities. This allows creators to immediately view high-quality graphics, significantly speeding up the development process. Additionally, its high-precision physics simulation faithfully reproduces natural movements and collisions, making it not only useful for game development but also for product design and simulations.

Furthermore, Unreal Engine supports cross-platform development, meaning it can easily be deployed on PCs, consoles, mobile devices, as well as VR and AR devices. This flexibility has gained widespread support across a variety of industries, not just the gaming world.

How to Learn Unreal Engine

There are abundant resources available for learning Unreal Engine. Epic Games offers Unreal Academy, which provides numerous free online tutorials for users ranging from beginners to advanced developers. This makes it possible for individuals with little programming experience to start developing games or simulations.

Additionally, platforms like YouTube and Udemy also feature a wide range of tutorials and courses specifically focused on Unreal Engine, allowing developers to learn at their own pace. By utilizing these resources, it is entirely possible to reach a high level of proficiency through self-study.