GameMaker to make GMRT runtime free for commercial use from 2027

GameMaker will make its next-generation runtime, GMRT, free for commercial use from January 1st, 2027, removing the need for developers to buy a Professional licence to sell games built on the engine.

The company confirmed the change applies to commercial distribution of GMRT-built games across desktop, mobile, web and GX Games, the browser games platform operated by GameMaker's owner, Opera. GameMaker is the engine behind indie titles including Spelunky, Deltarune and UFO 50. In plain terms: from the start of 2027, a solo developer can build and sell a GMRT game without paying GameMaker a licence fee on those platforms.

What changes for developers?

The free commercial terms apply specifically to GMRT (GameMaker Runtime Technology, the engine's next-generation runtime), not to the existing GMS2 runtime. Developers who already hold a Professional licence retain the right to commercially distribute games made with GMS2, and they will also gain access to that runtime's source code.

The new model builds on GameMaker's decision earlier this year to open access to GMRT's source code. Under the open-development approach, developers can:

• Explore the engine's underlying technology
• Adapt the runtime to fit their projects
• Potentially contribute to the engine's development

There is one significant carve-out. Console exports will still require an Enterprise licence and approved developer status with the platform holders, regardless of which runtime a project uses. That reflects the certification requirements console manufacturers impose on shipped software rather than a GameMaker pricing decision alone.

What stays the same?

Existing licence prices will remain unchanged. GameMaker has not announced new tiers, bundles or a transition fee for studios moving from GMS2 to GMRT. The company has also not published figures on what proportion of its user base currently holds Professional licences.

Head of GameMaker Russell Kay framed the move as part of a broader accessibility push. "From the very beginning, GameMaker has been committed to making game development more accessible and flexible for every creator out there," Kay said.

"As GMRT continues to roll out in beta across platforms, we are widening the scope of what we provide to developers," Kay added. "We are excited to see what the community comes up with as we embark on this fresh chapter for GameMaker."

Who is GameMaker?

Opera, the Norwegian browser and software company, acquired GameMaker in January 2021. The engine team is based in Dundee, Scotland, and the tool has been downloaded more than 12 million times. GMRT is currently rolling out in beta across platforms, meaning the free commercial terms arrive roughly a year or more after developers first get production access to the runtime.

For small studios and hobbyists weighing engine choices, the January 2027 date turns GMRT into a zero-licence-cost path to commercial release on PC, mobile and web, with consoles remaining the paid exception. The signal to watch is the pace of GMRT's beta rollout across platforms over the coming quarters, which will determine whether the runtime is production-ready when the free terms take effect.