iPhone Unreal Engine ‘days away from release’

A modified Unreal Engine for iPhone and iPad game development is days away from release, according to reports.

The Wall Street Journal claims Epic will release its iOS engine “to the public”, and suggests that the tool will – like UDK – be free to download and tinker with.

Epic Games previously said it would “offer multiple licensing models” for its iPhone-customised Unreal Engine. Prior to this, the firm said it will likely licence out its iPhone-custom Unreal Engine for free and won’t begin to take royalties unless apps make commercial headway on the App Store.

The Wall Street Journal describes the iPhone and iPad engine as having an identical licensing model to UDK.

Developers using the engine for commercial pursuits “have to pay a $99 licensing fee and 25 per cent royalties after the first $5,000 in sales”, the paper said.

Develop has contacted Epic Games for clarification.

The engine itself was most recently flaunted by Epic’s blockbuster iOS title, Infinity Blade, which soared to the top of the iPhone ‘top-grossing’ charts.

“Apple’s App Store is the most vibrant market for mobile gaming,” said Epic co-founder Mark Rein.

“If you’re going to make a game for a mobile device, and you want to make the most money, you’re nuts not to make it for iOS.”