Amazon Lumberyard

Amazon Lumberyard is a freeware cross-platform game engine developed by Amazon and based on CryEngine (initially released in 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]

Amazon Lumberyard
Developer(s)Amazon Game Tech
Preview release
Beta 1.27 / December 11, 2020 (2020-12-11)[1]
Repositoryhttps://github.com/aws/Lumberyard/
Written inC++[2] and Lua[3]
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
Platform
PredecessorCryEngine
LicenseProprietary (source-available)
Websiteaws.amazon.com/lumberyard

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 engine's source code was released under a source-available arrangement on GitHub. It remains under a proprietary license.[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 Squadron 42 Story-based Single-player, Space combat, first-person shooter Microsoft Windows Cloud Imperium Games, Foundry 42, Behaviour Interactive Cloud Imperium Games
TBA Star Citizen MMO, Space trading and combat, first-person shooter Microsoft Windows Cloud Imperium Games, Foundry 42, Behaviour Interactive Cloud Imperium Games
TBA The DRG Initiative[21] Third-person shooter TBA Slingshot Cartel TBA
Cancelled Breakaway MOBA Microsoft Windows Amazon Game Studios Amazon Game Studios
Spring 2021 [22] New World [23] MMO Microsoft Windows Amazon Game Studios Amazon Game Studios
Cancelled[24] 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[25] Action role-playing video game TBA Apocalypse Studios Apocalypse Studios

References
  1. "Announcing Amazon Lumberyard 1.27". Amazon. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. "Lumberyard Details". Amazon. Retrieved February 20, 2016. Lumberyard provides free access to its native C++ source code.
  3. "Lua Scripting - Lumberyard". Lumberyard Developer Guide. Amazon. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  4. Morrison, Angus (February 9, 2016). "Amazon launches free 'triple-A' Lumberyard engine". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  5. Makuch, Eddie (April 6, 2015). "Amazon and Crytek Agree to Licensing Deal Worth $50-$70 Million - Report". GameSpot. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  6. Takahashi, Dean (February 12, 2016). "Inside Amazon's decision to make a video game engine". VentureBeat. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  7. Good, Owen S. (February 9, 2016). "Amazon rolls out Lumberyard, an entirely free game development engine". Polygon. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  8. Good, Owen (February 9, 2016). "Amazon rolls out Lumberyard, an entirely free game development engine". Polygon. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  9. "Amazon Lumberyard FAQ". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  10. Nutt, Christian (February 9, 2016). "Amazon launches new, free, high-quality game engine: Lumberyard". Gamasutra. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  11. Neltz, András (February 9, 2016). "Amazon Releases Its Own Game Engine For Free". Kotaku. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  12. Connors, J.C. (March 14, 2016). "Now Available – Lumberyard Beta 1.1". Amazon GameDev Blog. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  13. Chen, Hao (June 28, 2016). "VR, HDR, and more in Lumberyard Beta 1.3 – Available Now". Amazon GameDev Blog. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  14. Feltham, Jamie (June 6, 2016). "Amazon Lumberyard's 1.3 Update is All About VR". UploadVR. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  15. "Lumberyard Release Notes – Beta 1.12 (December 2017) - Lumberyard Release Notes".
  16. "Amazon Lumberyard: Features".
  17. "Lumberyard Release Notes – Beta 1.0 (February 2016) - Lumberyard Release Notes".
  18. Jarvis, Matthew (March 16, 2016). "First Amazon Lumberyard update brings mobile support, Substance integration". Develop. NewBay Media. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  19. Lumberyard & Amazon GameLift: Now Available – Lumberyard on GitHub by Todd Gilbertsen on 15 August 2017
  20. license on github.com/aws/Lumberyard
  21. McKeand, Kirk (February 23, 2017). "The DRG Initiative is a third-person team shooter where Twitch can influence battles". PCGamesN. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  22. "Release Date Update". newworld.com. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  23. "Let the games begin". amazon.com. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  24. "Final Crucible Developer Update". Crucible. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  25. Mccaffrey, Ryan (October 24, 2018). "Deadhaus Sonata Announced From Eternal Darkness, Legacy of Kain Creator Denis Dyack". Retrieved December 18, 2018.
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