CryEngine 3 vs. Unreal Engine 3 Comparison

Chances are that over the last few years you've played a game built using the Unreal Engine 3. Whether on BioShock, Unreal Tournament 3, Gears of War or another game, you've seen the engine in action. Some think it's the best game engine built to date, while others think it's old and overused. Well, with the recent announcement of Crytek's new CryEngine 3, Epic may need to watch its back, as there's a new game engine in town and it's sporting technology surpassing anything seen on the consoles yet.

[reincarnated]

CryEngine 3 wins hands down.

[Jpinter]

Hence why Epic Games has been working on Unreal Engine 4 for the past few years. But I have to say...Crytek sure is a top contender now.

[GWAVE]

UE3 looks dated. Why use UE3 in this comparison when the Rage engine is out there, the Killzone 2 engine is out there, the Resident Evil 5 engine is out there, and the Uncharted 2 engine is out there?

[Hydrolex]

They should use the CELL for that

[PrimordialSoupBase]

Unreal's trade off is mediocre outdoors and foliage, while CryEngine's is sub par urban sprawls. They're each useful for their specific type of game.

But if Crytek's proves to be easier to develop for, then that's another story entirely. That's probably the main point no one ever talks about. Tech demos are hardly everything.

[Why dis]

I'v noticed that too.

I guess now that the CryEngine 3 is on console fanboys will use this as an tool to bash anything they can for the hell of it or for some resentment( Usually Unreal Engine 3/PS3 troubles/games).

Just calling it out you don't see me hunting for this sh*t to submit on this site.

[PS3istheshit]

i played unreal tournament 3 on my ps3 and it was insanely good
graphics, physics and everything
i gotta admit as much as i dislike 360, gears of war looks pretty dam good
the bulky characters are look awesome
if any1 hasnt played unreal tournament 3 then you better stop being greasy and play it, or Imma Hav To Cut Yo Ba11s Mang

[DeadlyFire]

CE 3 does have an edge, but its still just CE2 repackaged for optimization on consoles and PC platform. CE3 is not a new engine just a fixed engine. Just wait until 2011-2012 when the big guns come out with Unreal Engine 4 and CryEngine 4. The true game engine battle will commence.

[IcarusOne]

That's news to me. I thought it was still mastering UE2.

If that rumor about CE3 being considered for feature CGI use is true, that's awesome.

[likedamaster]

You can't forget art direction. While I notice more detail in CryEngine 3, it's boring. Same environments, same hyper realism no true variety and diversity in art direction. It's still a while till we get a game using this engine and won't really know what it's capable of till later, but comparing it to a proven engine like UE3, although imperfect, is a little premature...but then again, there's no better standard(for lincensed engines) than UE3 right now.

[Parappa The Rappa]

maya aint goin anywhere, calm down

[swiftshot93]

have created the best multiplatform engines this generation. Kudos to them.

By the way, IMO the demo I saw wasnt the greatest thing I've seen. I've honestly seen better looking games. But still it is mighty beautiful.

[Jpinter]

You guys will be seeing a game that utilizes the CryEngine 3 very soon... ;)

[ThanatosDMC]

Dont add Capcom's engine since everything is solid (plants, hanging clothes, etc.) and there's a lot of invisible walls in their games.

[San Frandisco]

uh,cryengine WAAAAY better then URE3 .. i have crysis and play it on high (not highest) and its INCREDIBLE and blows the sh!t storm outta URE3 visuals.

[socomnick]

cry engine 3 is not what crysis runs on. Cry engine 3 from what I understand is a gimped version of what crysis runs on.

[likedamaster]

It's not a "gimped version" of Crysis engine it's a "scalable" version of Crysis Engine for consoles. It's the same with Unreal Engine 3's scalable engine for consoles just look at Gears PC. Much higher res, better textures, higher framerates, and DirectX 10 support. Gears for PC looks phenomenal on PC. I still play it, btw.

[Carbide7]

It's kind of unreal by how far CE3 wins this one...
(Pun not intended)

[CrippleH]

CryEngine 3 doesn't even seem complete yet also.

[Zeus Lee]

Gonna have to go with CryEngine 3 on this one

[SL1M DADDY]

+1

[The_Zeitgeist]

CryEngine

[Bumpmapping]

UT3 is outdated tech time to put the old dog out of it's misery

[y0haN]

"its" not "it's" :P

[celldomceen1]

IT'S who cares!!!

[JBaby343]

Proper punctuation FTW!

[ultimolu]

Cry Engine killed that comparison right there. I'm excited to see how the Cry Engine is used.

[chidori666]

the engine of unreal looks like ps2 game and outadated........

[STONEY4]

Have you played Unreal Tournament 3? I've played 16 player instant action matches in really small maps with the Titan mod and there are little to no framerate drops, even when it's extremely intense with around 6 titans walking around and rockets flying everywhere. The graphics are really good too, at least from the PS3 version. I'm not sure how the 360 version looks or plays.

[Shaka2K6]

.

[Sir Ken_Kutaragi]

Outdated looking CR*P!!! ;-D
After playing 'KillZone 2' i got 'Unreal 3' and it looks like a PS2 game!!!???
My 'Quake 3' on PS2 looks the same as 'Unreal 3'???
+ That is NOT PS3's fault, just look and play KillZone 2!!! ;-P

+ 'CryingENGINE' on the xBox 360 WON'T look better than KillZone 2!!!

POOR xBots!!! ;-D

[AngryTypingGuy]

@Shaka - isn't it coming to both consoles? I believe so.

[chidori666]

unreal engine not surpassed the cryengine 2.5

[Microsoft Xbox 360]

The Unreal Engine looks disgusting.

[STONEY4]

I can't watch the video, some Naruto crap shows pops up whenever I press play.

Edit: Nevermind, I got it working. But they should have compared Unreal Tournament 3 instead, I think it looks better than Gears. CryEngine would look better either way, I just need to see an actual game running it on consoles.

[dirthurts]

You are comparing an engine rendering environments, with no real onscreen characters, in a controlled enviroment to a actual game designed to have tons of characters on screen.
How is the comparable? Any game running tons of enimies all with AI on will obviously be rendering less detail to all of them.
Any engine could render these scenes in a controlled environment with no action on screen.
how ridiculous.
Don't get me wrong, I'm pumped about the engine, and love the Crysis games, but this is worthless. A totally pointless article.
Lets compare some unreal tech demos, to Crytec tech demos. Then we can play fair. Not tech demo vs game.

[squidyj]

You're right, it's not a fair comparison, Crytek haven't developed a specific visual style for the tech demo, neither have they developed appropriate assets and art resources. Just wait until we actually have games coming out.

[Bumpmapping]

That's because the console versions are running 30FPS so the frame rate is consistent,hence why they didn't go 60FPS like the PC version they would of had a lot harder time getting the game running properly.

[Rob0g0rilla]

It never really impressed me to begin with. The CryEngine 3 looks better but the video of it running on consoles really didn't wow me. I would like to see a comparison of Gears 2 and a game on ps3 or 360 using the CryEngine 3. Not a tech demo.

[XLiveGamer]

I wanna see a game with the Art design of Gears and the way they look on a game using the CryEngine3.

Nobody here can't deny that Gears design looks awesome.

[Deadman64]

the destroyed world is truly amazing

[likedamaster]

I just wrote something about that on gamerzone. Anyway, most here say Crytek engine 3 destroys UE3 but no one mentions the last pic and how Gears wins that one. Fanboys ftw!

[Sci0n]

That comparison is no fair at all lol.

[Strife Lives]

:( Epic,use the Cryengine for Geow3

[squidyj]

Talking about Unreal Engine 4, It would have to be seen just what the quality is on UE4 to be able to make any comparison but I think it's important to note that if you look at CE3 specs there are a number of features there not being implemented (i assume due to hardware limitations)on this generation of console. We haven't seen a maxed CE3 yet, we haven't even seen a PC CE3 yet. I hope we do soon as I reckon it might just rock socks off.

[IaMs12]

I have come very annoyed with the UE3 because every game i played seem to use it. Dont get me wrong it is a great engine but now its over done, and most devolpers wont utilize it right so its even more annoying like Rainbowsix Vegas. On the other hand, Gears of War1 and 2 look awesome and Bioshock.

Is it me or does it have that "Grainy" look to it that just annoys me now.

EDIT: I wanted to add that the CryEngine 3 seems to be having Frame rate issues. to me its a little jittering due to the fact its running at its max for consoles, not PC for consoles therefore its also just a demo. I hope devs use it right to have max visuals with solid gameplay

[PS360PCROCKS]

That was a lame ass comparison! Lol it was only water!!!

[Strife Lives]

I hope ME3 uses Cryengine. . .just. .wow.that would rock.

[DelbertGrady]

The new Batman game is also using UE3, and it looks very promising.

http://www.gamersyde.com/st...

[No Way]

Hah. Wow. That actually does look pretty intriguing!

[aaron5829]

...........

[Kushan]

2005 vs 2009.

'nuff said.

[OrganicMachine]

this is so unnecessary ...

[cyclindk]

I'd like to see comparisons between Cry Engine 3 and whatever Crysis used (Cry 2?) to see what drawbacks (as well as improvements) it actually has. UE3 (as much as I despise its overuse) has the added advantage of developer experience, everybody and their mother has had a go at the old UE3 or its predecessors at some point or another; the old skank.

[BobbySaget]

This is an awkward comparison. I dont know if these are the two engines in need of comparsion. Sucks that alot of you taking this as an opportunity to bash one console or the other.

Unreal Engine 3 looks amazing, It has this amazingly gritty realistic look. Plus it clearly has better looking buildings and architecture.

Cryengine 3 looks Good. They spend so many resources rending all of the environmental detail that they sacrifice things like improved AA. I am one of those guys that cannot STAND jaggies. Also i beleive Cryengine3 has far superior Foliage, however it does all have that PLASTIC look. you know what i mean?

Cryengine3 looks good, but in both the 360/PS3 version there is only 2x AA, Pop-in shadows (worse in the PS3 version), and pop in Foliage. Plus it appears that it can barely run on either system with more than 20-25FPS even during the demo. I understand that they arent finished optimizing it, but im reluctant to believe its going work well on either system.

[CertifiedGamer]

Cliffy B little Unreal Engine 3 doesnt touch the CryEngine 3

[JeffGUNZ]

It did when Gears 1 came out, but now it seems engines are just becoming unbelievable. When Gears 1 came out, that had to be one of the best graphics i have seen on any console at THAT time. I am excited to see a finished product on Cry Engine 3 for a console.

[devilhunterx]

are they making out?

[xg-ei8ht]

Cryengine 3 is not a gimped version of cryengine 2.

It's better!.

Just watch the interview with crytek.

The new engine is going to be used on high specs pc's as well.

It's coded better, will run better and hopefully for Consoles will play very well.

I asked this question ages ago.

Lets say crysis has 100,000 trees on PC.

And crysis comes on console with 50,000 trees.

It's still crysis.

Even if they remove parts of the world.

But in actual fact, i've played both crysis and warhead and i don't want that on console.

[Jihaad_cpt]

This is off topic but does anyone know what engine Polyphony Digital use for Gran Turismo on PS3? Im curious.

[Antan]

Their own in-house engine.

[L-a-i-n]

Polyphony Digital makes there own engine just like pretty much all Sony owned properties. I just don't understand why people just don't make there own and stop paying others to do it for you. You get what you want/need without having to pay somebody else. Look at Naughty Dog and Insomniac they make there own have Naughty Dog for one has one of the best looking and playing games on the market. The Cry Engine 3 does look pretty dang good though. I would like to see what Free Radical can do with it on a console. Don't mention Haze they could do so much better than that.

[AngryTypingGuy]

CryEngine 3 is the clear winner, although there were a couple of shots, specifically the urban shot and the last shot where the UE3 looked better. CryEngine 3 is lacking a little bit in urban areas, but the jungle areas and human faces look unbeatable.

[likedamaster]

Agreed.

[Lawliet]

both look amazing, but there are already better engines out there. Before any idiot start to flame me, this is CE3 we're talking about not CE2.

[housegroove76]

they both look great. I think what it really boils down to is the art direction. To really see the true difference a developer would have to do the same game on the two different engines. Unfortunately that will never happen due to the cost.

[manwich25]

The UE3 engine is done, Cryengine 3, Id Tech5 engine are the future. I have said it before and I will say it again. Let Bungie get their hands on the CryEngine 3

[curveball]

This is an apples to oranges comparison, and there's no way to confirm that CE3 trumps UE3 until it has shipped games for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3, and those developers say it was better than their experience with Unreal (which gets new features all the time, btw).

[sofocado]

Evolution Engine is better the Unreal Engine 3

[JeffGUNZ]

Cry Engine clearly looks much better.

[boss_killa]

one is years old has been used many times,

the other is pretty new and more advanced..... gee i wonder which one will look better...

[The_Zeitgeist]

Maybe we should all wait until we see an actual game using the CryEngine3 before we make any comparisons.

[nchizimbi]

This comparison is unnecessary. I found the article quite upsetting and provocative...made me want to post a blog :)

Otherwise, I find both engines to be exceptional pieces of technology.

[xg-ei8ht]

Nothing wrong with comparing engines.

But both engines are going for different things.

Crytek always had Foliage in mind and high quality physics.

Epic always had alot of bump mapping and style.

But yeah i'd like to see one game made on a few different engines, not only to see how good it looks, but how good it runs.

Either way, both suit their purpose.

[M_Prime]

from the article it seemed that the CE3 is only for PS3. anyone else get that?

also, like the other's said, its apples and oranges.

lets see a game with CRY3 and then we'll judge. Until i can see NPCs in action there is no real comparison. I mean the GEARS footage is IN GAME. the CE3 footage is a tech demo.. not exactly fair.

and personally FARCRY totally put me off the whole JUNGLE setting, its so overdone and it seems to be CRY engine's main selling point..

and don't FARCRY devs have an engine that does this too? i'm confused