Amazon Launch Free to Use Game Engine - Lumberyard

Amazon have found another way to make people smile, and it's not drones or 2-hour shipping (recently made available in Liverpool, amongst other cities). This time it's a completely free to use game engine!

Called Amazon Lumberyard, it's currently available for Windows and creating PC games, but Linux and Mac support is coming, as well as the ability to make mobile games.

It's based on CryEngine 3, but with some obvious changes. It features Twitch integration (because they own Twitch), and of course will be fully compatible with the Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Amazon Lumberyard is the only game engine that gives you a combination of free, feature-rich development technology, native integration to the AWS Cloud to make it easier to create live and multiplayer games, and native integration of Twitch features that help you connect games to the world’s leading social video platform and community for gamers.

But, you may say, how will this free service make money? Unlike when you use Unity, or indeed the CryEngine itself, you won't have to pay a penny. Not when you begin selling, and not when you have sold a certain amount. Amazon are making it free, with an eye on those who will develop multiplayer titles.

The terms and conditions state that if you want to make it an online title, you must use the AWS.

Of course, if you want to create a single player title you are free to do so with no charge. You can also use your own servers to host the multiplayer game -- so long as you don't use a competitor's.

One thing to note, however, is that you cannot use Lumberyard for medical purposes. There is a clause, however, pointed out by reddit user hymerman:

However, this restriction will not apply in the event of the occurrence (certified by the United States Centers for Disease Control or successor body) of a widespread viral infection transmitted via bites or contact with bodily fluids that causes human corpses to reanimate and seek to consume living human flesh, blood, brain or nerve tissue and is likely to result in the fall of organized civilization.

For more details, head over to the official site.