Epic explains iPhone Unreal Engine dev costs

The new mobile-customised Unreal Engine will be free for developers to download and play with, Epic Games has confirmed.

A company spokesperson has confirmed to Develop that the iOS tool has a similar pricing model to its Unreal Development Kit (UDK), where a $99 licence is needed for commercial projects. Also, Epic Games will take 25 per cent of a game’s revenues once the title starts taking in over $5,000.

Apple already takes a 30 per cent cut of iPhone and iPad games published on its App Store.

Epic’s powerful engine was recently flaunted with Infinity Blade; the firm’s first fully-fledged iPhone and iPad game that became a blockbuster success overnight.

Numerous news reports suggest the game has become the fastest-grossing App Store title of all time, taking in at least $1,625,000 in four days.

Epic Games hasn’t released an Android version of its engine, though the firm’s vice-president Mark Rein has not ruled out the move.