I hope you're all doing well! I wanted to share some thoughts and get your feedback on a significant decision we're considering for Anti-Extinction. Due to ongoing issues and lack of support from Unity, we're contemplating a gradual transition from Unity to Unreal Engine. Below is a detailed list of the problems we've been facing:
Core Issues:
Unstable Editor: Basic features frequently crash the entire editor window.
SRP (Scriptable Render Pipeline) Issues: Beyond my control and Unity is not addressing them.
PhysX Problems: The update from 4.3.1.X to higher versions is causing severe issues with the physics system, which is crucial for Anti-Extinction. Check out the discussions here:
Stuttering Issue (https://issuetracker.unity3d.com/issues/a-1000-times-heavier-gameobject-will-stutter-when-colliding-with-a-lighter-gameobject)
Physics Performance Regression (https://forum.unity.com/threads/physics-performance-regression-in-unity-2022-3-8-and-onwards.1495442/#post-9675257)
Garbage Editor Reload: The editor reload process is inefficient and problematic.
.NET 8 Delay: The absence of .NET 8 means ongoing instability and long waits for editor repaint windows.
Cinemachine Issues: Working around editor issues, particularly with Cinemachine 3, causes memcpy crashes. Cinemachine 2 is stable but crashes upon updating due to a .TSS file issue.
Potential Benefits of Unreal Engine:
Stability: Unreal Engine 5.4 offers more stability and robust features, which could save us time and resources in the long run.
Support: We can apply for Epic MegaGrants, which could provide the funding we desperately need.
Important Milestones:
Q3 2024 Demo Release: We plan to release a demo of the game based on the story lore in Q3 2024. This demo will be developed in Unity to ensure we meet our timeline and provide you with a taste of what’s to come.
Transition to Unreal Engine: After the demo release, we will transition to Unreal Engine to finish the work we started with Furr-Tec from 2022 to now. This move aims to enhance stability and leverage Unreal’s robust features for the final game development stages.
Our Commitment to Quality
As a dev team, we want to ensure the game is as optimized and bug-free as possible for our consumers. This transition is part of our commitment to delivering the best possible experience. We believe Unreal Engine will help us achieve these goals by providing a more stable and powerful development environment.
Your Feedback
We understand this is a significant shift, and we want to ensure it aligns with the expectations and support of our community. Here’s what we’re considering:
Gradual Transition: Slowly moving parts of the project to Unreal Engine while continuing some development in Unity to maintain progress and stability.
Community Involvement: Keeping you all updated on our progress and involving you in testing and feedback to ensure the transition improves the game's quality.
We value your thoughts and would love to hear your feedback on this potential transition. Do you think this move is the right step for Anti-Extinction? How do you feel about the potential benefits versus the challenges of such a transition?
Please share your thoughts and questions here