The GameMaker engine series that powered Undertale, Hotline Miami, and Spelunky will be free for commercial use on PC.

Background: A 26-Year Tool and a Professional License Gate

GameMaker is a series of game creation tools that dates back around 26 years. Its current developers, YoYo Games, are now owned by browser company Opera. Historically, GameMaker has been aimed more at novice programmers, with a focus on two-dimensional visuals, though its latest incarnation, GameMaker Runtime, aims to strengthen three-dimensional capabilities.

The tool has been used by a range of indie developers and studios, including Heart Machine for Hyper Light Drifter, Toby Fox for Undertale, Derek Yu for Spelunky, Vlambeer for Nuclear Throne, and Dennaton Games for Hotline Miami. The source also mentions Graham Smith, former RPS archchancellor, as a GameMaker user, though it does not say what he used it for.

Before the announced change, developers needed a Professional license to sell or monetise games made with GameMaker. That licensing barrier has shaped how creators publish their work, especially if they want to turn a game into a commercial product rather than a hobby or non-commercial project.

Development Process: November 2023 Free Use Leads to a 1st January 2027 Change

In November 2023, YoYo Games announced that GameMaker tools would be free for non-commercial use on PC. The source describes that earlier step as being received with affectionate amusement by Graham Smith, the former RPS archchancellor mentioned above.

The next major step is dated 1st January 2027. From that point, developers will be able to publish games created using the latest GameMaker tools for free on PC, alongside web and mobile. This removes the Professional license requirement for commercial release on those platforms.

Console publishing remains different. Developers who plan to release a GameMaker game on console will still need a paid license. The source states that export to consoles requires an Enterprise license and approved developer status.

Latest Progress: Ross Manthorpe Details License and Runtime Effects

Community developer Ross Manthorpe detailed the change in a post on the official site, explaining what it means for people who currently hold a Professional license.

According to the source, developers who currently own the Professional license will still be able to commercially distribute games made on the existing GMS2 runtime. They will also gain access to GMS2 runtime source code. This preserves the ability to publish with an existing runtime while giving current license holders an additional benefit.

The source adds that, regardless of runtime, developers will still need an Enterprise license and must be an approved developer to export to consoles. It also states that there will be no changes to existing tier pricing.

For GameMaker users, the practical effect is a split between platform paths. PC, web and mobile commercial releases become free to publish with the latest GameMaker tools from 1st January 2027, while console releases stay behind a paid Enterprise and approval requirement. The change also clarifies that existing Professional license holders keep commercial distribution rights tied to the GMS2 runtime, with access to its source code.

Current Stage: Free PC, Web and Mobile Publishing, Paid Console Access

At the stage described by the source, the licensing shift has been announced but not yet in force until 1st January 2027. The key date marks the transition from the previous Professional license requirement to free commercial publishing for games made with the latest GameMaker tools on PC, web and mobile.

The source writer also mentions using Twine recently and wondering whether to experiment with a tool that supports more complete graphics, which frames the change as relevant not only to established developers but also to people exploring smaller interactive projects.

The announced structure is therefore: free commercial release on PC, web and mobile from 1st January 2027 for games built with the latest GameMaker tools; continued Professional license support for existing GMS2 runtime distribution and GMS2 runtime source code access; and unchanged Enterprise license plus approved developer requirements for console export, with no changes to existing tier pricing.