A Quick Comparison between Unity & Native Game Platform

With the gaming world exploding in popularity, attracting developers and gamers alike, it’s no surprise that IT professionals and SDEs are increasingly eyeing careers in mobile game development. This shift is understandable. The advancements in the gaming industry are remarkable, offering a unique skillset and the ability to create visually stunning experiences through engines like Unity for native mobile development. Traditional career paths in software, product, or e-commerce development may soon face stiff competition from the allure of the game industry.

Believe it or not, the highest revenue in the entertainment industry comes through the gaming industries (mostly from Online Games), much more than from the movies and music industries.

To develop a game we need game development platforms or game engines. The two most popular game development platforms are:

• Unity Game Development Platform
• Native Game Development Platform

Unity Native, Both game development platforms are gaining popularity day by day. Thanks to internet technologies. 5G, 4G & Faster Broadband connections. Fast internet connection sets a different world for game developers.

What is a Unity Game Development Platform? 

Unity is a cross-platform game engine with a built-in Integrated Development Environment (IDE) developed by Unity Technologies. Unity platform develops video games, web plug-ins, desktop platforms, and consoles. Also, Unity supports Mobile Game Development. So, Unity is a game engine where you create, control, and run your games.

Some games developed in the Unity Platform are:

Rummy, Poker, Ludo, Teen Patti 

What is a Native Game Development Platform? 

Native is a platform-specific coding environment that is written in platform-specific language to run on the target platform. These are not as flexible as Unity and in Native one app can be developed for one platform only. Native supports Skill-based games to build on their platform.

Some games developed in Native Platform are:

Super Bowl, Zombie Aircraft, Football Kick, Color Lines 3D

Unity vs Native: A Comparison

1. Performance

When comparing the performance of Unity native 2D game development platforms, several key factors come into play:

Unity Performance

• Cross-Platform Efficiency: Unity allows developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms. While this saves time, it may not always be as optimized as native code for specific platforms.
• Rendering Pipelines: Unity offers Universal Render Pipeline (URP) and High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP), which help optimize graphics performance based on the target hardware.
• Overhead and Abstraction: Unity adds a layer of abstraction that can introduce some performance overhead. This may affect frame rates and responsiveness, especially on lower-end devices.
• Profiling Tools: Unity provides robust profiling tools like the Unity Profiler and Frame Debugger, allowing developers to identify and address performance bottlenecks.
• Performance Optimization Techniques: Techniques such as Level of Detail (LOD), occlusion culling, and efficient memory management can be applied to improve Unity game performance.

Native Platform Performance

• Platform-Specific Optimization: React Native Game Engine allows for deep optimization tailored to the specific hardware and software of the target platform, leading to superior performance.
• Direct API Access: Developers can utilize platform-specific APIs (e.gMetal for iOS, Vulkan for Android) for advanced graphics and performance tuning.
• Lower-Level Control: Native code provides greater control over system resources and hardware, enabling fine-tuned performance adjustments.
• Minimal Overhead: Without the abstraction layer present in cross-platform engines, native applications often have less overhead, resulting in faster execution and smoother performance.
• Resource Management: Native development allows for more precise management of memory, CPU, and GPU resources, which is crucial for high-performance games.

And, Native platforms generally provide better graphics performance due to direct access to advanced graphics APIs and hardware-specific optimizations. Native applications typically have faster response times because they are optimized for the specific operating system and hardware. 

For simple or moderate-complexity games, Unity’s performance is often sufficient. However, for highly complex games requiring maximum performance, native development might be preferable. 

Unity vs Native iOS can offer better performance, but they often require more development time and resources to achieve these optimizations compared to Unity’s more straightforward cross-platform development approach.

2. Access to Features

When comparing Native Unity game development platforms, the level of access to device-specific features is a critical consideration. Here’s a detailed look at how each approach fares:

Unity Access to Features

• Cross-Platform APIs: Unity provides a range of built-in APIs that work across multiple platforms, making it easy to implement common features like input handling, physics, and basic graphics without platform-specific code.
• Platform-Specific Plugins: For features not natively supported by Unity, developers can use platform-specific plugins to extend functionality. These plugins can access native APIs, allowing Unity to leverage device-specific capabilities.
• Unity XR: Unity offers robust support for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) through its XR framework, enabling developers to create immersive experiences across different AR/VR hardware.
• Standardized Development: Unity’s standardized approach means developers can write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, though this sometimes means not all features are optimized for each specific platform.
• Updates and Compatibility: Unity actively updates its engine to support new platform features, but there can be a delay between when a new feature is released by a platform and when it becomes available in Unity.

Native Platform Access to Features

• Direct API Access: Native development provides direct access to all of the platform’s APIs and hardware features as soon as they are released, ensuring developers can utilize the latest capabilities immediately.
• Advanced Hardware Utilization: Developers can take full advantage of advanced hardware features, such as the latest graphics APIs (Metal for iOS, Vulkan for Android), haptic feedback, and device-specific sensors.
• Greater Control and Customization: Native development offers greater control over how features are implemented, allowing for more precise and optimized use of device capabilities.
• Platform-Specific Innovations: Native apps can fully leverage platform-specific innovations, such as iOS’s ARKit or Android’s ARCore for advanced AR experiences, often leading to more polished and feature-rich applications.
• Instant Feature Adoption: When new features are introduced by the platform providers, native development teams can immediately start integrating and using these features without waiting for third-party engine updates.

Unity simplifies the implementation of common features across multiple platforms through its unified API, which is especially beneficial for cross-platform development. Native development offers immediate access to the latest platform-specific features, which can be critical for apps that need to leverage cutting-edge technology as soon as it becomes available.

While Unity provides an easier and faster development cycle for cross-platform games, native development offers unmatched control and optimization for each specific platform. Unity’s extensive plugin ecosystem can bridge some gaps in feature access, but may not always match the depth and immediacy of native APIs.

3. Ease of Use and Learning Curve

When evaluating Unity versus native game development platforms, ease of use and the learning curve are crucial factors, particularly for new developers and teams.

Unity

• User-Friendly Interface: Unity features a highly intuitive and visual interface, which makes it accessible for beginners. Its drag-and-drop functionality and visual scripting tools, like Bolt, simplify the development process.
• Learning Resources: Unity offers extensive learning resources, including official tutorials, documentation, online courses, and an active community. Platforms like Unity Learn provide structured learning paths for developers of all skill levels.
• Asset Store: The Unity Asset Store provides a vast library of assets, including 3D models, animations, scripts, and tools, which can significantly reduce development time and complexity.
• Cross-Platform Development: Unity’s ability to deploy to multiple platforms from a single codebase reduces the complexity of managing different versions of a game, streamlining the development process.
• Supportive Community: Unity’s large and active community means that developers can easily find solutions to problems, share knowledge, and receive feedback from other developers.

Native Platforms

• Platform-Specific Knowledge: Developing natively requires knowledge of platform-specific languages and tools (e.g., Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android), which can have a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with these technologies.
• Development Environments: Native development environments, like Xcode for iOS and Android Studio for Android, offer powerful tools but can be more complex and less intuitive for beginners compared to Unity.
• Documentation and Resources: While there are extensive resources available for native development, including official documentation and tutorials from Apple and Google, the learning path can be more challenging due to the need for platform-specific knowledge.
• Fine-Grained Control: Native development provides more control over system resources and platform-specific features, but this often comes with increased complexity and a steeper learning curve.
• Separate Codebases: Developing for multiple platforms natively typically requires maintaining separate codebases, which can increase development time and complexity.

Unity’s user-friendly interface, extensive learning resources, and supportive community make it easier for beginners to get started and develop games quickly. Native platforms, while powerful, require more specialized knowledge and can be more complex.

Unity has a gentler learning curve due to its comprehensive tutorials, visual tools, and community support. Native development demands a deeper understanding of platform-specific languages and tools, making the learning curve steeper.

Unity’s cross-platform capabilities and asset store can significantly speed up the development process, especially for smaller teams and indie developers. Native development, while offering better optimization and performance, can be more time-consuming due to the need for separate codebases and deeper technical knowledge.

Unity vs Unreal: Key Differences, Pros, and Cons

How do Game Developers Benefit From Unity Game Platform? 

Unity platform game means with the help of unity gaming engine, developers can build game apps that can run on multiple platforms starting from Android, iOS to Windows, MacOS and other platforms. 

Here are the benefits of using the Unity Game Platform: 

1. Integrated Development Environment

Integrated Development Environment is a software application that provides awesome facilities to programmers for software & game development. It comes with so many tools and a debugger. 

2. Cross-Platform

Cross-Platform means the code or software that can be implemented on multiple computing platforms. Games can be quickly ported onto Android, iOS, or Windows platforms. 

Unity allows developers to build a single game that can be deployed across multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and consoles, saving time and resources. 

3. User-Friendly Interface

Unity’s intuitive interface and visual editor make it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers, streamlining the development process.

4. Graphics

2D & 3D graphics are available in Unity. It gives a set of tools for common image processing tasks while importing new image assets.

5. Powerful Features

Unity includes advanced features like Physically-Based Rendering (PBR), real-time global illumination, and VR/AR support, enabling the creation of high-quality, immersive games.

6. Independent Coding Environment

A drag & drop environment is available for creating games in Unity Platforms. Unity users can use any syntax similar to #C, JavaScript.

7. Unity Asset Store

Unity is an asset store where you can download so many game assets, functional extensions, and solutions that are ready-made that are integrated with Unity. It comes with a wide range of pre-made assets, including 3D models, animations, sounds, and scripts, which can speed up development and reduce costs.

8. Strong Community and Support

Unity has an active community and extensive documentation, providing valuable resources, tutorials, and support for developers to overcome challenges and learn best practices.

How do Game Developers Benefit From Native Platform Games? 

Native game platforms refer to developing games specifically for a particular operating system or device, such as iOS (using Swift/Objective-C) or Android (using Kotlin/Java). 

Here are the benefits of using native game platforms:

1. Unique Device Features

As Native is specific to one platform, therefore it covers all the beneficial features that are present in the compatible device. Developers take all the advantages of available unique features.

2. Performance

The overall App’s performance increases as the developer will develop a game using one particular operating system’s SDK only. Native platforms allow developers to fully utilize the hardware and software capabilities of a device, resulting in better performance and responsiveness compared to cross-platform solutions.

3. Access to Platform-Specific Features

Developers can access and utilize all the unique features of the target platform, such as advanced graphics APIs, device sensors, and platform-specific UI components, leading to a more integrated and seamless user experience.

4. Improved Stability and Reliability

Since native apps are built specifically for one platform, they tend to be more stable and reliable. This reduces the chances of compatibility issues and bugs, providing a smoother gameplay experience.

5. User Experience

Native development allows for adherence to platform-specific design guidelines and standards, ensuring a user experience that feels natural and intuitive to the platform’s users. High Performance usually leads to a good User Experience and Native Games provide a good User Experience. 

6. Enhanced Security

Native platforms often provide more robust security features and access to platform-specific security APIs, enabling developers to create more secure applications.

7. App Ranking

High game performance and appealing UI/UX make it easier for mobile games to rank higher on App stores and Play Stores. A better user experience will result in more positive reviews.

8. Timely Updates and Support

Native platforms typically receive updates and new features directly from the platform provider (e.g., Apple or Google), allowing developers to quickly integrate the latest advancements and maintain compatibility with new OS versions. 

What Should a Game Developer Choose? Unity or Native? 

Are you interested in building Games? But thinking about choosing the right Game development company? Don’t worry Artoon Solutions is always here to help you when it comes to developing mobile games. With an expert staff of 250+ game developers and 14+ years of experience in the industry, we pass through all types of game app requirements and coding challenges.

If you wish to become a game owner and are not sure about the requirements then contact us at Artoon Solutions. We would love to discuss & guide you ahead. 

Hire Unity Developers from Artoon Now!

FAQs

1. What is the main advantage of using Unity for game development?

Unity’s main advantage is its cross-platform capability, allowing developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, saving time and resources.

2. How does native game development improve performance?

Native game development offers optimized performance by providing direct access to platform-specific APIs and hardware features, enabling fine-tuned control and efficiency.

3. Which platform has a steeper learning curve, Unity or native development?

Native development typically has a steeper learning curve due to the need for platform-specific knowledge and tools, while Unity offers a more beginner-friendly interface and extensive learning resources.

4. Can Unity access all the features of a device like native platforms can?

While Unity provides extensive cross-platform APIs and support, it might not have immediate access to the latest platform-specific features, which native development can leverage directly.

5. Is it more cost-effective to develop a game in Unity or natively?

Developing in Unity is generally more cost-effective for cross-platform games due to its single codebase approach, whereas native development might require separate codebases for each platform, increasing time and costs.