Starter Game gets a massive update, adds over 950 features and improvements

Ask any creative. Getting started is often the hardest part when it comes to making something new. That’s why we created Starter Game—a free game sample with over 500 unique assets to help you quickly prototype ideas and learn how Lumberyard works. Got an awesome game concept in mind? Starter Game will help you hit the ground running. You can download it here.

You can download the latest version of Starter Game here for free.

Today, we’re excited to announce the Action Update for Starter Game, which introduces over 950 enhancements and improvements. Some highlights include snappy gunplay mechanics, rocket jumping, a more responsive AI, and improved character control. You’ll also find a slew of customizable environments like a massive crashed airship with detailed interiors, a defense basecamp, a broad range of vegetation, and much more. There’s a lot to experience in Starter Game. Give it a try—we think you’re going to like it.

This latest update of Starter Game will feel like a more polished game experience overall. But in many ways, it’s more than just a game; it’s also a classroom. Under the hood, you’ll find examples of cascading slices, component entities, vegetation distribution, Lua scripted events—everything that makes Lumberyard tick. As the engine continues to grow and evolve with new releases, so too will sample content like Starter Game. (Make sure to keep a look out for more samples on the horizon…)

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find in this update:

• Campaign arc – complete with a story, cinematics, mission objectives, a compass to point you to your next objective, and a narrative voice over to guide your mission
• Over-the-shoulder aiming – improved aiming and shooting, with more accurate camera controls
• Improved character control – including double-jumping, controller support, and crouching
• More responsive AI – more AI variation and responsiveness to player actions
• Track View for cinematics – Component based track view setup, scripted for game play events
• UI for in-world menus – Updated UI systems for better player clarity
• Component Entities that create and update instanced combat zones
• Mission progression built with cascading slices

We’d love to hear what you think. Starter Game is a direct result of the community’s on-going feedback, and it keeps getting better with your suggestions. You can learn more about Lumberyard by watching our tutorials, visiting the community forums, and reading through our documentation.

About the author

John Noonan has spent most of his career working on AAA console games, including the Crackdown and Halo franchises. As Executive Producer on the Amazon Lumberyard Content Team, John helps create inspiring content that demonstrates the capabilities of Lumberyard.