The existing FBX pipeline of iClone 7, and Character Creator 3 can import to Unreal with everything needed to add Reallusion characters and animations into Unreal projects. The FBX export is the way learners, novice and indie/pros can access the pipeline with the most value, to balance budget and power. Transferring characters to Unreal is an import/export process with this pipeline. 

The new iClone Unreal Live Link plug-in is a workflow accelerator that connects iClone to Unreal to directly transfer assets and then animate with live performance. This plug-in removes the manual steps and lets the character design, and animation, flow directly into Unreal. Use iClone tools for face and body motion capture, then choose to do motion editing inside iClone, before sending live animation data into Unreal Engine. The iClone Unreal Live Link plug-in is a total solution for characters, animations, cameras, and lights - designed to significantly accelerate studio and professional projects. 

The primary aim of these special tools is to remove the burden of repetitive tasks like saving, exporting, importing, and shader assignments during professional workflows which can drive costs up for studios with a large number of hourly artists. It is important to mention that these tools are not indispensable for individual animators, as these steps can be done manually when time and budget are not of the essence.     

The Auto Setup automates the process when working with digital human shader assignments and avatar characterization in Unreal Engine 4, as it works with three shader types: Standard (PBR), LW (Lightweight), and HQ (High Quality) Digital Human.

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Tony
Product Marketing Manager 

www.reallusion.com

Is there a separate price for just the plug-in? I already have iClone, 3DXchange, Curve Editor, Character Creator.

Here

https://www.reallusion.com/store/product.html?l=1&p=ic#1917


     

It would be useful if the existing users of Reallusion products did not have to go hunting around the web site to find the purchase information for individual products.

Looks good, but the price is insane for what it is.

And they have the means to pay such a price.

Wasn't that free on the Unreal Marketplace at some point?

This applies especially to those that want first. 
They will lower later on, but first they will stre--t--ch out the higher price!

They can always sell at $200 later and by that point people will be like, "Eh, why not....it's so much cheaper now...."

See?  They get both the big spenders and the bargain hunters, just not all at once.  It happens over the life span of the product.
What they do that is smart also, is they create a hot market by lowering the price at the beginning, so you feel you better get it before it goes up. 
They could though, to your point, capture a lot more purchases at the beginning if they lowered it more aggressively. 

I see it they are doing this to make $.  And this is a very good thing because it drives the innovation.

Ah the Unreal side of it was, not the plugin itself

I bought Live link last week at 699 so I've already saved $200 of it's price this week. 

That said, after 1 test I was solddddddd.
Before:
A 30-45 minute FBX import that didn't do what I wanted it to or look/do any thing like it did in iclone.
After:
Loaded perfectly identical from iclone into unreal in under 3 minutes.
I actually screamed out FUCK YAAA at 1 am when it "Just Worked" exactly how I wanted it to.
Less time working on the How, more time working on the What I am creating.

That $700 plug in erased 2 months of failure instantly. Anything that speeds up my pipeline is worth it even at the full price. 
Money = Time.  The fastest path that gets me there just got easier.
Yes it blows they make you pay at ever inch of the pipeline but this one is different.

Hobbyist vs Professional and I can't afford the time not having this plug in.
My release window is very tight and looking at the time saving that $700 makes total perfect business sense