Unreal Engine is a popular game engine that is widely used in the gaming industry. It has been around since 1998 and has undergone several major updates over the years. One of the key questions about Unreal Engine is whether it is open source or not. In this article, we will explore the unique licensing model of Unreal Engine and see how it compares to other open source software.

What is Open Source?

Open source software is software that is made available for anyone to view, modify, and redistribute. It is typically created by a community of developers who collaborate on the project and share their work with others. Open source software is often used in industries where collaboration and innovation are highly valued.

Unreal Engine’s Licensing Model

Unreal Engine is not strictly open source, as it has a unique licensing model that allows users to use and modify the software for commercial purposes. The license is called the “Epic Games Launcher Agreement,” and it outlines the terms and conditions under which users can use Unreal Engine.

Under the Epic Games Launcher Agreement, users are allowed to use Unreal Engine for any purpose, including commercial games, websites, and virtual reality applications. They are also allowed to modify the software and distribute their own versions of it, as long as they include the Unreal Engine branding and comply with the terms of the agreement.

The Epic Games Launcher Agreement is a proprietary license, which means that users cannot sell or distribute the source code of Unreal Engine. However, Epic Games does provide access to some of the source code under certain circumstances, such as when they are working closely with a developer on a project.

Is Unreal Engine Open Source?

While Unreal Engine is not strictly open source, it does incorporate many open source libraries and tools into its software. For example, it uses the GLFW library for graphics rendering, which is open source under the LGPL license. It also includes other open source components, such as Boost and libcurl, that are licensed under their respective open source licenses.

In addition, Unreal Engine has a strong community of developers who contribute to the software through its official forums and online development tools. This community provides a wealth of resources and support for users, and many of them have created plugins and extensions for Unreal Engine that can be shared with others.

Conclusion

Unreal Engine is not open source in the traditional sense, but it does incorporate many open source libraries and tools into its software and has a strong community of developers who contribute to its development. The unique licensing model of Unreal Engine allows users to use and modify the software for commercial purposes, while still providing access to many open source components and a supportive community of developers.