Unreal Engine is free to download and can be accessed through the official Unreal Engine website or the Epic Games Launcher.

Before you dive in, there are a few technical requirements and hardware considerations to keep in mind:

1. System Requirements

Unreal Engine is a powerful, professional-grade tool and can be very demanding on your hardware. To ensure your computer can handle the software, review the official Hardware and Software Specifications.

2. Supported Platforms

You can develop within Unreal Engine using Windows or macOS. Once your project is ready, the engine allows you to "deploy" (export) your work to various platforms, including:

  • Desktop: PC and Mac

  • Mobile: Android and iOS

  • Consoles: PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

  • Immersive: VR and AR headsets

3. Additional Requirements for Deployment

While the engine is free, deploying to specific platforms often requires extra tools or legal permissions. For example, if you want to build an iOS application, you will need:

  • Mac Hardware: Required for the final build process.

  • Xcode: Apple’s specialised development software.

  • Apple Developer License: A paid membership required to publish on the App Store.

Installation & Setup

Before opening Unreal Engine, you need to set up the Epic Games launcher, which handles engine versions and project updates.

  • System Requirements: Unreal Engine is a powerful tool. At a minimum, ensure your machine has a dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA/AMD with at least 6GB–8GB VRAM), an SSD (preferably NVMe), and 32 GB of RAM is heavily recommended for smooth performance.

  • Step 1: Download and install the Epic Games Launcher from the official Unreal Engine website.

  • Step 2: Open the launcher, create or log into your account, and navigate to the Unreal Engine tab on the left sidebar.

  • Step 3: Click the Library tab at the top. Look for the + button next to "Engine Versions" to install the latest stable version of Unreal Engine.

  • Step 4: Launch the engine, create a Games (or Film/Architecture) template project (choose Blank or Third Person with Starter Content enabled), and name your project.