GameMaker Studio 2 Free - What's the catch?

GameMaker Studio 2 is now free to use. So is it like Godot, totally free?
Well, no. You can now use GameMaker Studio for unlimited time with all functionalities but you cannot create exports. To release your game on different target platforms like Windows, mac, or moblie you still need a license.

But now you can use GameMaker Studio 2 without restrictions totally free and develope your game as long as you like. So for most people there is no catch at all. Register, install and boom ready to use. You can still share/open your/other project, get local imports and use GameMaker Studio without real restrictions. Once you want to use it commercially you can much much later invest into a license.

Tldr: Fully functional GameMaker Studio 2 without commercial use (no export)

So if you always wanted to use this engine for free, now is the time.

Where to get it?

[dourwolf]

This can be good for open-source games. Even with the free version, you can still export yyz files. So if a developer has an open-source project, a third-person can still download it, and play it, granted that GameMaker is installed for the third party too. Also, a third party can compile the project if they are capable, potentially providing an exe or whatever for the project.

[eikpix]

That feeling when you just bought the 1-year trial just before the announcements!:D

[SebastianSgambati]

Quick question, both on their site and the Steam store it's just "GameMaker". I don't see anywhere "GameMaker Studio 2". Did they just drop game maker altogether and I'm downloading 2? I'm so confused.

[rotapander]

So is it an option to, when you finish your project, once buy a creator or indie (does creator work?) version for one month, upload it and then quit the license again until you drop something new? :D

[LemmyK]

i was pretty deep into a project only to release i cant export it

[Sosq]

So if I publish my game on steam for exemple can I cancel the subscription and still get paid for my game and if so can I start with the free trial and buy the indie subscription when my game is finnished ?

Sorry for bad english

[TheSeiniro]

When you say export, does that mean I can't create an executable to share with my friends or use for school? Or do you mean selling it commercially by putting it on the market?

[EverythingPermitted]

This is pretty nice, but I guess publishing to consoles is still expensive as hell. For me personally, this is too little too late. I already own a pc licence, and after version 2.3 (i think) pretty much broke everything in GM for months on end, I switched to Godot and really loving it. This is good news for gamemaker people though.

[danseinn]

does this mean that you can make games, open a download for the game you made but you arent allowed to make any money from it?

[lewissmauro]

Can you develop a game using the free version, then buy a licence to then be able to export it?

[kyonas]

they are so smart i wish construct 3 would do the same they don't relise when u be a pro at a software u gonna 100% pay if u knew ur game is already finished to publish it

[holographicSquid]

This price structures is kind of better than unity's and unreal. It's just a one time payment in and you can keep promising to your desired platform

[embodyingocean]

aight I'm going back to making games

[shared-knowledge]

ok now lets just ask What if you bought the GameMaker Studio 2 desktop app is that unlocked as well because you did buy it full price like really Full Price

[bombie]

when i download the free version it says i dont have a license ;-;

[database]

I'm a beginner game developer, i use scratch to make my games and upload it to gamejolt but i would be very lucky to get gamemaker as i dont really know how to code and gamemaker has a great visual scripting and arrangement, it is the best for making 2d games.

I wish i could have gamemaker for free and able to compile it to exe

[alexanderarduinovich]

and I had it stolen but now I switched to Godot ...😒

[halfsine]

I made an entire game, now I can't export it, I'm fine, it's all good. (please kill me I spent a week on it and I can't afford to export it.)

[aaronwise]

at first I was loving game maker studio 2 now they fucked it up by making it free and so even exporting my games as .exe files I had to pay extra for even when I already had a paid license

[johnblur]

must be all free or i won't choose it