Best Game Development Software 2021
Many videogame fans have probably thought of creating their own game but are not sure where to start. If you ever considered developing your videogame but think it might be too difficult or require an extremely powerful computer, this article is for you.
With some of these tools you can create a wide variety of games, from RPGs to Online Casino minigames, such as the ones on https://www.novibet.co.uk/casino/. Here we will discuss some of the best game development tools that are used both by indie developers and major companies.
Unity
Originally released in 2005 as an macOS exclusive game engine, Unity has evolved over the years as one of the main apps in the industry, comprising about 50% of all games released nowadays. The tool is cross-platform, which means you can build your game for Windows while also being able to port it to PlayStation, Android, Nintendo Switch or any other major platform.
There are four main plans available for development. The free personal license allows you to do core Unity real-time development, visual scripting and up to one collaboration tool. Paid plans can go from $400/year per seat to $200/month per seat, and allow many advanced tools, such as source code access, priority customer service and technical support. Whether you choose a free or paid plan, you are able to include monetization tools and in-app purchase plugins without any additional charge.
Some of the titles created using the Unity engine worth mentioning are: Hearthstone, Rust, Kerbal Space Program, Cities: Skylines, Cuphead, Escape from Tarkov and Superhot.
Unreal Engine
Released more than two decades ago, the Unreal Engine was created by Tim Sweeney, founder of Epic Games, which still owns the game engine. The latest version, released in 2014, is open source with a stimulating royalty model for developers. If you use Unreal to create your game, you are only expected to pay a 5% commission on your revenue after your title earns more than $1 million. Nowadays, the Unreal Engine has not only been used in videogames, but also to create visual effects and 3d animation in TV shows such as The Mandalorian and Westworld, and movies such as The Lion King.
The next version of the Unreal Engine is expected to be released later this year, and the software developers have already decided to retain the same royalty model as the previous version. This update will support all existing platforms, including the next-generation videogame consoles like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X.
Epic Games also has its own online store. According to some analysts, a game using Unreal Engine on the Epic Games Store is expected to receive up to 23 percent more than in other platforms, such as steam and PlayStation Store.
Unreal’s most famous title is the massive multiplayer battle royale game Fortnite, released in 2017 and played by more than 250 million people worldwide. Other famous games that use this engine are Shenmue III, Street Fighter V, Borderlands 3, Ark: Survival Evolved and the Batman: Arkham series.
