Unreal vs. Unity for VR Game Development: Which Is Best?

No doubt you’ve heard of this pair of game-making frameworks, but what’s the difference between them and which should you use?

With a market value of $4.6 billion in 2022, it’s no secret that the virtual reality sector has boomed in recent years. More people than ever before now have access to VR headsets. The hardware and software that power them are producing increasingly immersive experiences.

Modern game engines and development suites, like Unreal and Unity, are well-suited for VR programming. So, Unity vs. Unreal: which is best for VR development?

How Is VR Game Development Different?

Differing hardware and software features across platforms have always challenged video game developers. Code/assets that work on one platform or device may not work on others. This forces you to test your games rigorously and implement fixes for any bugs that emerge. Fortunately, engines like Unreal and Unity simplify the process, with tricks to make code work across platforms.

VR adds an extra layer of complexity to video game development, with VR headsets coming in a range of different form factors. Image resolution, processing power, and control methods all play a role in the way that VR games work. This makes it crucial for you to choose the right engine for your projects.

• Image resolution: VR headsets often feature dual displays at HD and Ultra-HD resolutions. Synchronizing the images on each display and rendering them correctly requires complex code.
• Processing power: Some VR hardware uses regular PC components, but some uses smartphones or built-in computers to run games. The engine you choose can dictate the types of devices your game will reach.
• Control methods: You can play VR games with controllers, keyboards, and mice, but many games rely on more modern tools like motion control.

VR Development Engine Overview: Unreal vs. Unity

You need to have an understanding of what Unreal and Unity offer before you can decide which engine to use for VR development. Each has general-purpose features to support a range of programming, as well as VR-specific features.

Unreal Engine Overview

Unreal Engine was first debuted in 1998 with the release of the successful Unreal first-person shooter game. Epic Games, the folks behind Fortnite, developed the Unreal software. Unreal Engine is responsible for approximately 23% of the notable games on the Steam PC platform. But what does this engine offer?

• Compatible platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, macOS, iOS, Android, ARKit, ARCore, OpenXR, SteamVR, Oculus, Linux, and SteamDeck.
• Supported programming languages: C++ and Blueprint Visual Scripting.
• Editing software: Unreal Editor/UDK (Unreal Development Kit).

Unity Overview

First released in 2005, Unity is younger than Unreal, but it still features many of the same benefits. This engine is responsible for an estimated 11% of the notable games on Steam, making it a juggernaut in its own right.

• Compatible platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, macOS, iOS, Android, ARKit, ARCore, Oculus, Microsoft HoloLens, Windows Mixed Reality, Playstation VR, and WebGL.
• Supported programming languages: C#, Unity Visual Scripting, and external DLLs.
• Editing software: Unity Editor.

What Makes Unity Good for VR Development?

Unity offers a wide range of development features, many of which target VR programming. The examples below will give you a good idea of what Unity can do when you choose to use it for VR development.

Accessibility

Unity has a huge community of both amateur and professional developers. Its detailed documentation is easy to understand. This makes it far more accessible than other game development engines, giving you the chance to learn as you build your games.

Wide Platform Coverage

You can make games for PCs, games consoles, mobile devices, and a wide variety of dedicated VR hardware with Unity. The Unity XR (extended reality) SDK includes plugins for popular tools like ARCore XR, Oculus XR, and Windows XR. This enables you to publish games that will work with VR headsets out of the box.

High Performance

The Unity High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) aims to give you the tools to create beautiful graphics without sacrificing performance. This makes it possible to use Unity to develop VR games for mobile devices that are just as immersive as their PC and console counterparts.

Drop-in Toolkits

One of the key benefits of an engine like Unity is the pre-written code that comes with them. Unity has an XR Interaction Toolkit which should save time and resources when you are building games for VR, AR, and other types of mixed reality.

Mobile Development Tools

Unity is one of the most popular mobile game development tools on the market. As smartphones get more powerful, VR games are getting easier and easier to run on them, and Unity lets you take full advantage of this.

What Makes Unreal Engine Good for VR Development?

Unreal Engine is one of the most popular game development tools in the world, but how good is it for VR? Here are some of Unreal’s most important VR development features so that you can decide for yourself.

Full XR Support

Extended reality is an umbrella term that covers augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. You can use Unreal to create games of all these different types, with a huge range of XR platforms available with the engine.

Wide Platform Coverage

Like Unity, Unreal supports PCs, consoles, mobile devices, and more. This makes it a great choice if you’re looking to build games across platforms. You should keep in mind that Unreal lacks the mobile development pedigree that comes with Unity, but you can still use it for games on smaller devices.

Advanced Graphics

High-fidelity graphics has always been one of Unreal’s main selling points. While it may be harder to optimize than engines like Unity, you can achieve truly stunning results in Unreal if you have a machine with enough power. This is perfect for immersive experiences and VR games.

C++ Coding

This benefit is somewhat subjective, but many VR developers appreciate the native C++ coding that comes with Unreal. Languages like this can give you greater power over the software you create compared to those like C#, though this isn’t always a benefit.

Unity vs. Unreal Engine: Which Is Best for VR Development?

So, which of these engines is best for VR game development? There isn’t a simple answer, with both Unity and Unreal offering their own features and benefits that are great for VR development.

Unity is easier to use, more widely documented, and has better mobile compatibility than Unreal Engine. Many developers also claim that Unity is easier to optimize, providing better frame rates with less processing power. This makes Unity ideal for beginners or those who want to make games exclusively for lower-powered devices, like smartphones or all-in-one headsets like the Oculus Quest.

In contrast, Unreal Engine is perfect for experienced developers looking to create VR games that use the latest graphics technology. This engine has excellent support for a variety of VR, AR, and MR platforms/tools, which is good news if you’re interested in bringing new features to your games in the future.

Building Your Own VR Game

VR is more popular than ever before, making it a tempting option for many game developers. You will need to spend some time learning about VR programming and development before you get started on a project like this. Choosing an engine to use is just the first step. Next, it’s time to come up with a winning VR game idea to get started.