Native Game Development vs Cross-Platform Game Development
Developers should learn native game development when building performance-critical games, such as AAA titles, VR/AR experiences, or mobile games requiring low-level hardware access for graphics or physics meets developers should learn cross-platform game development when targeting a broad audience across different devices, such as releasing a game on both mobile and desktop platforms or supporting multiple consoles. Here's our take.
Native Game Development
Developers should learn native game development when building performance-critical games, such as AAA titles, VR/AR experiences, or mobile games requiring low-level hardware access for graphics or physics
Native Game Development
Nice PickDevelopers should learn native game development when building performance-critical games, such as AAA titles, VR/AR experiences, or mobile games requiring low-level hardware access for graphics or physics
Pros
- +It's essential for maximizing platform-specific features, like Metal on macOS/iOS or DirectX on Windows, and for projects where fine-tuned optimization is a priority over rapid cross-platform deployment
- +Related to: c-plus-plus, opengl
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Cross-Platform Game Development
Developers should learn cross-platform game development when targeting a broad audience across different devices, such as releasing a game on both mobile and desktop platforms or supporting multiple consoles
Pros
- +It is particularly useful for indie developers and small teams with limited resources, as it streamlines development and maintenance
- +Related to: unity, unreal-engine
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Native Game Development if: You want it's essential for maximizing platform-specific features, like metal on macos/ios or directx on windows, and for projects where fine-tuned optimization is a priority over rapid cross-platform deployment and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Cross-Platform Game Development if: You prioritize it is particularly useful for indie developers and small teams with limited resources, as it streamlines development and maintenance over what Native Game Development offers.
Developers should learn native game development when building performance-critical games, such as AAA titles, VR/AR experiences, or mobile games requiring low-level hardware access for graphics or physics
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