Hey everyone! I'm curious why we don't see many game engines built with Java, especially when we have popular engines like Unity and Unreal. It seems to me that Java has some solid capabilities, as evidenced by its use in games like Minecraft, which can be heavily modded and optimized for low-end PCs. My guess is that maybe Java struggles with lower-level graphics communications or other performance limitations. I enjoy using Java, and I find Unity's C# to be a similar experience, but I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts on why there isn't a major Java-based game engine out there.
5 Answers
There are already a few engines out there like JMonkeyEngine and LibGDX, but I think the bigger issue is ecosystem and market viability. Developers tend to gravitate towards languages and frameworks with backing. If Java had gained a foothold in the gaming sector back in the day, we might have seen a different picture. But for now, you’ll mostly see standalone games made in Java, rather than full-fledged engines.
Totally get your point! Java does have tools like jMonkeyEngine and LibGDX which are great, but they don’t have the same level of support or popularity as Unity or Unreal. The real issue boils down to performance—Java often gets sidelined in the gaming community because it's considered less efficient for high-performance gaming compared to C# and C++. Plus, the garbage collection can be unpredictable for real-time gameplay, which isn't great for performance-critical applications. But with ongoing projects like Valhalla, who knows what the future holds?
Exactly! I think the community's preference for C# over Java is really a snowball effect that started a long time ago.
Java's also battling a reputation problem. Garbage collection used to be a major sticking point for developers who see freezes in games due to collections, but that’s outdated thinking. Modern GCs are a lot better. However, the perception remains that it's slower compared to C++ or even C#. And let’s be real, support from big companies is lacking, which really doesn’t help its case.
I agree! The perception is often a barrier, even if the technology keeps improving.
Have you checked out Godot-Kotlin? It supports Java and lets you script in it even though the core engine is written in C++. The main struggle with Java in game engines seems to be its slower adoption compared to C#. C# got a head start with Xbox and DirectX backing it up. If Java can get over some licensing hurdles, we might see more engines develop. Also, Java's garbage collection isn't as big of a deal as many think; it's often more efficient than you'd expect!
I didn’t know about Godot-Kotlin! Thanks for mentioning it!
Totally agree with you. If Java had gained traction earlier, we might see different landscape today.
Honestly, a lot of it comes down to community momentum and industry support. Java did a lot of its growth in business applications and web development, while C# really capitalized on the gaming market with Microsoft backing. If more developers got behind a Java game engine and pushed for it in education or job opportunities, we could see a shift. Also, for many, building engines that tap directly into hardware like graphics through Java has been tricky; that’s really where C++ and C# shine!
Right! The focus on business solutions leaves a gap for game development in the Java world, despite it having potential!
Great point! The ecosystems around languages really dictate what developers choose to invest their time in.