Unity

Unity is a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies, which is primarily used to develop both three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) video games and simulations for computers, consoles, and mobile devices. Initially released in June 2005, Unity has grown to become one of the most widely used game engines in the world.

History

Unity was created by Unity Technologies, founded by David Helgason, Joachim Ante, and Nicholas Francis in Denmark. Originally developed as a tool for their own game projects, Unity quickly shifted focus towards providing a game development platform accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical background.

Features

Unity offers a primary scripting API in C#, and both the Unity editor and engine can be extended by downloading or creating custom packages. Unity supports the creation of custom 3D modeling tools, shaders, and other technical assets. The engine has built-in support for a wide range of graphics APIs, including DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, and is capable of rendering on multiple platforms.

Graphics

Unity provides a powerful rendering engine capable of producing high-quality visuals. It supports various lighting techniques, shadow rendering, and particle systems, which are essential for creating realistic environments and visual effects.

Physics

Unity integrates a physics engine, which simulates real-world physical interactions. This allows developers to create more dynamic and interactive gaming experiences.

Multiplatform Support

One of Unity's key features is its multiplatform support, allowing developers to deploy their games on over 25 platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and various game consoles.

Usage

Unity is used by game developers ranging from hobbyists to large studios. Examples of popular games developed with Unity include Pokémon Go, Monument Valley, and Cuphead. Beyond gaming, Unity is also used in industries like film, automotive, architecture, and education for simulations and visualizations.

Licensing

Unity offers different licensing options catering to the needs of individual developers, small teams, and large enterprises. These range from free versions with limited capabilities to full-featured subscriptions.

See also

• Unreal Engine
• GameMaker Studio
• CryEngine

External links

• Official website