Browser-Based
PlayCanvas is entirely browser-based, which means you don't need to install any additional software. This allows for easy access from any computer with a web browser.
Real-Time Collaboration
Multiple developers can work on the same project simultaneously, thanks to PlayCanvas's real-time collaboration features, similar to what you find in Google Docs.
Cross-Platform
Games developed in PlayCanvas can be played across different platforms, including desktop, mobile, and VR with little modification.
Open Source Engine
The PlayCanvas engine is open-source, which allows developers to understand, modify, and improve the underlying code to better suit their needs.
Fast Load Times
The engine is highly optimized for performance, offering fast load times and an efficient execution of game code.
WebGL Support
PlayCanvas leverages the power of WebGL, allowing for advanced 3D graphics directly in the web browser without needing plugins.
As someone who recently started game development, finding the right engine has always been very difficult, It was till Chat-GPT (yes the Ai) recommended me playcanvas, it's Ui was challenging and its learning curve was steep, but at the end of the day it felt rewarding to understand and achieve something. So my final verdict, if you want to make 3D games, not go through the hassle of unity or work anywhere anytime, go for playcanvas.
PlayCanvas is regarded as a robust and flexible tool for developing web-based 3D games and applications. Its ease of use, cloud-based collaboration, and extensive feature set make it a strong choice, especially for projects that prioritize accessibility and collaboration.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if PlayCanvas is good.
Check the traffic stats of PlayCanvas on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of PlayCanvas on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of PlayCanvas's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of PlayCanvas on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about PlayCanvas on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
BabylonJS and the OP's own Aframe [1] seem to have similar licenses, similar number of Github stars and forks, although Aframe seems newer and more game / VR focused. How do Babylon, Aframe, Three.js, and PlayCanvas [2] compare from those that have used them? IIUC, PlayCanvas is the most mature, featureful, and performant, but it's commercial. Babylon is the featureful 3D engine, whereas Three.js is fairly raw.... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
For some reason that I cannot understand in my case the calculated shading normals are pixelated. Compared to playcanvas.com (probably a forward renderer), mine is like utter shit. Source: about 3 years ago
PlayCanvas has been using WordPress for 12 years now. Generally speaking, it's been fine. However, after much consideration, we have migrated away to Jekyll + GitHub Pages. I thought our experience might be of interest to other WordPress users (if only to confirm why you wouldn't consider switching): Https://blog.playcanvas.com/moving-from-wordpress-to-jekyll-a-case-study/ Interested to hear peoples' thoughts... Source: about 3 years ago
It's just a cool tech demo that pushes CSS to its limits, but it's completely useless if you want to create usable 3d models. If you want to model in the browser, you can check out vectary, playcanvas, or spline. Source: about 3 years ago
The model in the video has no spheres, which is why the performance is decent. In any case, I agree with you for the most part, I'm just lazy and didn't expect anyone to actually want to use this for serious modelling. You should check out playcanvas or vectary if you are serious about in-browser 3D modelling. Source: about 3 years ago
Hey, I do not have any experience with deepar.ai so Iโm not super familiar with the process using that platform. In my opinion Iโd probably recommend another platform to try and accomplish this. Since you mentioned that you have everything set up in a engine already (lens studio) Iโd recommend you just use a webxr engine. In my experience the two best engines are https://playcanvas.com and... Source: about 3 years ago
If you want the closest thing to Unity that's focused on browser-based (mobile and otherwise) development, try Playcanvas: https://playcanvas.com/. Source: over 3 years ago
What about https://playcanvas.com/ ? - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
There are many engines that you can use in browser. 1. (GDevelop)[https://gdevelop.io/] 2. (Construct 3)[https://www.construct.net] 3. (Godot Engine)[https://editor.godotengine.org] 4. (Play Canvas)[https://playcanvas.com] 5. (Hex Engine)[https://hex-engine.dev]. Source: over 3 years ago
I have done some project on https://playcanvas.com/ who is a good too to make some good experiences. Source: almost 4 years ago
Web-focused 3D engines (three.js, babylon.js, PlayCanvas, ...) are pretty capable. Maybe not AAA-level like Unreal Engine, but certainly capable of the stuff you're describing here. If you're comfortable working within these frameworks, and writing shaders, there's a ton you can do. Source: almost 4 years ago
I wasn't familiar with PlayCanvas, looks very cool. Source: almost 4 years ago
I was looking at the PlayCanvas stuff, which seemed pretty impressive. Source: about 4 years ago
Another thing I recommend is to learn how to make games with ThreeJS (3D) or PixiJs (2D) and build web-based games using javascript. If you want a full-fledged web game engine, then you can take a look at Playcanvas. Playcanvas is similar to unity but for web-based games. If you want to learn all about Three Js then this course will help you a lot. Source: about 4 years ago
Not sure why no one has mentioned this yet but PlayCanvas is a good option https://playcanvas.com. Source: over 4 years ago
The closer to unity that I saw is PlayCanvas which has a web editor. Source: over 4 years ago
They did, but then the FOSS movement took them away without proper replacements. For those that pay, or have their employers pay, for their tooling, https://www.outsystems.com https://webflow.com https://playcanvas.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
a quick search of "online game engine" gave me https://playcanvas.com, https://flowlab.io, and https://gdevelop.io which all appear to have browser based GUIs, but I haven't personally used any of them (or heard of anyone using them tbh). Not sure why you would want that over a local interface, especially when you get into adding audio and art assets which can be quite large. Source: over 4 years ago
Unity 3D Engine accepts Javascript. A WebGL-enabled Java engine such as PlayCanvas, developed at MIT, allows users to simultaneously work in the game with an online browser and publish to multiple platforms. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
PlayCanvas[0] is the probably the closest "web-first" solution compared to Unity. Used by lots of Snap Games & Instant Games. It's written in JS which means that it's way smaller ~350kB for an empty scene if I recall. [0] https://playcanvas.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
PlayCanvas (https://playcanvas.com/, free tier): full featured editor. Source: over 4 years ago
PlayCanvas is garnering attention as a robust WebGL game engine tailored for creating interactive virtual reality (VR) and 3D games, setting itself apart as an innovative choice for developers focused on browser-based game development. Operating directly from the browser, it provides a unique development environment that simplifies the barrier to entry for creating sophisticated 3D content. This positions PlayCanvas as particularly appealing for developers and teams seeking a web-first game engine that delivers high performance without the need for extensive local setups.
The primary allure of PlayCanvas lies in its user-friendly browser-based engine, which offers a streamlined workflow for game development. It enables real-time collaboration, a feature paralleled in some other engines like Unity. Developers highlight its capacity to deliver high-performance 3D applications, leveraging the latest in web technologies such as WebGL. Notably, PlayCanvas is celebrated for its relatively small footprint, which is crucial for performance-sensitive web applications. Compared to larger engines like Unity and Unreal, PlayCanvas optimizes for web deployment with substantially smaller asset sizes.
Within the competitive landscape of game engines, PlayCanvas stands out among its peers such as Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, and others. It is often cited as being the closest web-first solution to traditional heavyweights like Unity. However, unlike Unity and Unreal, which offer extensive support for a wide variety of platforms including console and desktop environments, PlayCanvas targets developers specifically focused on web-based experiences.
PlayCanvas positions itself as more mature, feature-rich, and performant compared to other web-based engines like Babylon.js and Three.js. Although mainly commercial, its editor and collaborative capabilities provide a compelling value proposition for professional developers. This makes it an attractive solution for those who prioritize browser-based deployment while seeking the capabilities of a mature and robust engine.
The PlayCanvas community reflects a growing interest in browser-based and VR game development. Developers have contributed positively regarding the engine's performance and feature set, with specific praise for its capability to handle advanced rendering tasks seamlessly. As evidenced by GitHub metrics and online discussions, PlayCanvas maintains a competitive standing with a dedicated user base.
However, like many specialized tools, PlayCanvas faces challenges including a learning curve associated with its unique environment and the need for commercial licensing for advanced features which can be a deterrent for smaller independents or open-source purists. Many developers have noted the necessity of migrating from tools like WordPress to more developer-focused solutions, aligning with PlayCanvas's focus on development efficiency.
In summary, PlayCanvas is an advanced web-first game engine that provides a powerful and accessible platform for building 3D and VR experiences directly in the browser. It offers a unique blend of performance, ease of use, and collaborative capabilities, making it a compelling choice for developers who prioritize web-based game development. By integrating advanced rendering capabilities and maintaining a competitive edge over fellow web-based engines, PlayCanvas continues to secure its position as a favorite among those looking for efficient solutions without compromising on the quality and depth of web-based gaming experiences.
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