Amazon Lumberyard
Amazon Lumberyard is a free cross-platform game engine developed by Amazon and based on CryEngine (init. released 2002), which was licensed from Crytek in 2015.[4][5][6] The engine features integration with Amazon Web Services to allow developers to build or host their games on Amazon's servers, as well as support for livestreaming via Twitch.[7] Additionally, the engine includes Twitch ChatPlay, allowing viewers of the Twitch stream to influence the game through the associated chat, a method of play inspired by the Twitch Plays Pokémon phenomenon.[8] The source code is available to end users with limitations: Users may not publicly release the Lumberyard engine source code or use it to release their own game engine.[9] Lumberyard launched on February 9, 2016 alongside GameLift, a fee-based managed service for deploying and hosting multiplayer games, intended to allow developers the easy development of games that attract "large and vibrant communities of fans."[10] As of March 2018, the software is currently in beta status and can be used to build games for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One,[11][10] with limited support for iOS and Android and the support of Linux and Mac being planned for future releases.[9][12] Virtual reality integration was added in Beta 1.3, allowing developers to build games supporting devices like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.[13][14]
Developer(s) | Amazon Game Tech |
---|---|
Preview release | Beta 1.24
/ May 15, 2020[1] |
Repository | https://github.com/aws/Lumberyard/ |
Written in | C++[2] and Lua[3] |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
Platform | |
Predecessor | CryEngine |
License | Proprietary |
Website | aws |
Despite being based on the architecture of Crytek's CryEngine, the engine has been developed to use many of its own custom developed systems, some of which are in a preview mode. A few of these systems include: The Component Entity System, Fur Shader, Modular Gems (which allows developers to either create their own assets or add existing assets to their games), Script Canvas and many others [15][16]
The audio solution Audiokinetic Wwise, which is used in many popular games, was added in Beta 1.0 released in February 2016.[17]
The first update to Lumberyard was released on March 14, 2016 and included support for certain mobile devices, such as A8-powered iOS devices and Nvidia Shield, an FBX importer and integration with Allegorithmic's texturing software Substance.[12][18]
On August 16, 2017, the source code of the engine was made freely available under proprietary license terms via GitHub.[19][20]
Games using Amazon Lumberyard
Release date | Title | Genre | Platform | Developer | Publisher |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 15, 2019 | The Grand Tour Game | Racing | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Amazon Game Studios Seattle | Amazon Game Studios |
TBA | Star Citizen | MMO, Space trading and combat, first-person shooter | Microsoft Windows | Cloud Imperium Games, Foundry 42, Behaviour Interactive | Cloud Imperium Games |
TBA[21] | Everywhere | Action-adventure | TBA[21] | Leslie Benzies | Leslie Benzies[22] |
TBA | The DRG Initiative[23] | Third-person shooter | TBA | Slingshot Cartel | TBA |
Cancelled | Breakaway | MOBA | Microsoft Windows | Amazon Game Studios | Amazon Game Studios |
Spring 2021 [24] | New World [25] | MMO | Microsoft Windows | Amazon Game Studios | Amazon Game Studios |
May 20, 2020 [26] | Crucible | Third-person shooter | Microsoft Windows | Relentless Studios | Amazon Game Studios |
October 25, 2018 | Coffence | Fighting game | Microsoft Windows | Sweet Bandits Studios | Sweet Bandits Studios |
TBA | Deadhaus Sonata[27] | Action role-playing video game | TBA | Apocalypse Studios | Apocalypse Studios |
References
- "Slice system updates and NVIDIA Cloth Gem arrive in Lumberyard Beta 1.23 – Available Now". Amazon. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- "Lumberyard Details". Amazon. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
Lumberyard provides free access to its native C++ source code.
- "Lua Scripting - Lumberyard". Lumberyard Developer Guide. Amazon. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Morrison, Angus (February 9, 2016). "Amazon launches free 'triple-A' Lumberyard engine". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Makuch, Eddie (April 6, 2015). "Amazon and Crytek Agree to Licensing Deal Worth $50-$70 Million - Report". GameSpot. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Takahashi, Dean (February 12, 2016). "Inside Amazon's decision to make a video game engine". VentureBeat. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Good, Owen S. (February 9, 2016). "Amazon rolls out Lumberyard, an entirely free game development engine". Polygon. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Good, Owen (February 9, 2016). "Amazon rolls out Lumberyard, an entirely free game development engine". Polygon. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- "Amazon Lumberyard FAQ". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Nutt, Christian (February 9, 2016). "Amazon launches new, free, high-quality game engine: Lumberyard". Gamasutra. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Neltz, András (February 9, 2016). "Amazon Releases Its Own Game Engine For Free". Kotaku. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- Connors, J.C. (March 14, 2016). "Now Available – Lumberyard Beta 1.1". Amazon GameDev Blog. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- Chen, Hao (June 28, 2016). "VR, HDR, and more in Lumberyard Beta 1.3 – Available Now". Amazon GameDev Blog. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- Feltham, Jamie (June 6, 2016). "Amazon Lumberyard's 1.3 Update is All About VR". UploadVR. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- "Lumberyard Release Notes – Beta 1.12 (December 2017) - Lumberyard Release Notes".
- "Amazon Lumberyard: Features".
- "Lumberyard Release Notes – Beta 1.0 (February 2016) - Lumberyard Release Notes".
- Jarvis, Matthew (March 16, 2016). "First Amazon Lumberyard update brings mobile support, Substance integration". Develop. NewBay Media. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- Lumberyard & Amazon GameLift: Now Available – Lumberyard on GitHub by Todd Gilbertsen on 15 August 2017
- license on github.com/aws/Lumberyard
- "Former GTA 5 Boss Reveals Incredibly Ambitious-Sounding Game, Says It's "Very Different" Than GTA". GameSpot. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
- "EVERYWHERE". everywhere.game. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
- McKeand, Kirk (February 23, 2017). "The DRG Initiative is a third-person team shooter where Twitch can influence battles". PCGamesN. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- "Release Date Update". newworld.com. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- "Let the games begin". amazon.com. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- "Crucible launches May 20, 2020". playcrucible.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- Mccaffrey, Ryan (October 24, 2018). "Deadhaus Sonata Announced From Eternal Darkness, Legacy of Kain Creator Denis Dyack". Retrieved December 18, 2018.