GameMaker will be free for commercial use on PC from 1st January 2027, with the change also covering web and mobile releases.
Until then, developers need a Professional licence to sell or monetise games made with the tools. A paid licence will still be required for console releases.
YoYo Games, which is owned by browser company Opera, said the latest GameMaker tools will be free for non-commercial use on PC. Community developer Ross Manthorpe set out the change in a post on the official site.
He said developers who already own the Professional licence will still be able to commercially distribute games made on the existing GMS2 runtime, and will also get access to GMS2 runtime source code.
He added that developers will still need an Enterprise licence and approval to export to consoles, and that there will be no changes to existing tier pricing.
GameMaker has been used by such indie noteworthies as Heart Machine (Hyper Light Drifter), Toby Fox (Undertale), Derek Yu (Spelunky), Vlambeer (Nuclear Throne), Mossmouth (UFO 50), and Dennaton Games (Hotline Miami).
The tools have historically been aimed more at novice programmers and 2D visuals, although the latest incarnation, GameMaker Runtime, is intended to improve 3D capabilities.
Until then, developers need a Professional licence to sell or monetise games made with the tools. A paid licence will still be required for console releases.
YoYo Games, which is owned by browser company Opera, said the latest GameMaker tools will be free for non-commercial use on PC. Community developer Ross Manthorpe set out the change in a post on the official site.
He said developers who already own the Professional licence will still be able to commercially distribute games made on the existing GMS2 runtime, and will also get access to GMS2 runtime source code.
He added that developers will still need an Enterprise licence and approval to export to consoles, and that there will be no changes to existing tier pricing.
GameMaker has been used by such indie noteworthies as Heart Machine (Hyper Light Drifter), Toby Fox (Undertale), Derek Yu (Spelunky), Vlambeer (Nuclear Throne), Mossmouth (UFO 50), and Dennaton Games (Hotline Miami).
The tools have historically been aimed more at novice programmers and 2D visuals, although the latest incarnation, GameMaker Runtime, is intended to improve 3D capabilities.