Il nuovo runtime GMRT di GameMaker diventa gratuito per i giochi commerciali nel 2027

GameMaker announced on October 23 that GMRT, its next-generation runtime, will be free for commercial use from January 1, 2027. From that date, developers can build and sell games made with GMRT on desktop, mobile, web and GX Games without buying a Professional licence, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

Today, releasing a commercial game with GameMaker means paying for that Professional licence. GameMaker is the 2D-focused engine behind indie hits such as Spelunky, Deltarune and UFO 50, according to PocketGamer.biz.

What changes on January 1

• Free commercial release on GMRT. Games built on the new runtime can be sold on desktop, mobile, web and GameMaker's own GX Games platform with no Professional licence.
• Source code on every tier. GameMaker says developers will get access to GMRT's source code whatever tier they are on, building on its decision earlier this year to open that code up. Tier pricing does not change.
• The old runtime keeps its rules. Professional licence holders can still sell games made on the existing GMS2 runtime, and they also gain access to that runtime's source code.
• Consoles stay gated. Exporting to consoles still requires an Enterprise licence and approved developer status, whichever runtime you use.

That quote carries the main caveat: GMRT is still in beta. The free licence starts in January, but how ready the runtime is on each platform is a separate question that every developer will have to check for their own target.

How it compares with Unreal and Godot

GamingOnLinux frames the move as a response to competition: engines such as Unity and Unreal let developers ship games without paying until they pass a revenue threshold, and Godot is fully open source with no royalties at all. For reference, Epic's own Unreal Engine licence is free for game developers until a product's lifetime gross revenue passes $1 million, after which a 5% royalty applies to revenue above that line, and revenue from sales on the Epic Games Store is royalty-free. Coverage of GameMaker's change does not mention any royalty on GMRT games.

What it means for creators

UEFN works on a different model altogether. An island is not a game you sell; creators earn through Epic's engagement payouts and in-island purchases. GameMaker's change matters to the same people for another reason: a creator who wants a standalone 2D project next to their islands, one they can put on Steam or mobile stores, no longer needs a paid licence to ship it on GMRT from January. The Professional licence keeps its value for anyone staying on the GMS2 runtime, and consoles remain the one place where neither runtime is open without approval.