GameMaker offers free version as ‘gift’ to developers

2D game engine GameMaker has announced massive pricing changes in what its head calls a "gift" to its loyal user base.

Starting today, GameMaker will be free to use for noncommercial, non-console game development projects in a move CEO Russell Kay says is meant to "do the opposite" of recent unpopular decisions by competitors like Unity and Unreal Engine.

Specifically, GameMaker is eliminating the $9.99 per month indie and creator subscription fee. Instead, developers...

23 November 2023 | Development Tools

Mobile game ‘mortality rate’ hits 83% within three years

A new whitepaper titled "Good Games Don't Die" reveals that 83 percent of launched mobile games fail within three years.

The study, conducted by revenue growth engine SuperScale, polled 500 developers across the US and UK to uncover issues plaguing the $96.2 billion mobile gaming industry.

The report unveils a catch-22 where 78 percent of developers prefer building new games despite a critical 43 percent failure rate during development alone.

This trend...

22 November 2023 | Android

Unity unveils AI innovations and platform updates at Unite 2023

Unity has introduced a range of AI innovations and platform updates aimed at enhancing support for game developers in realising their creative visions and achieving success in the competitive gaming industry.

One of the highlights is the early access availability of Unity Muse, an AI-powered suite designed to simplify content creation for game developers.

Muse offers features such as Muse Chat, enabling developers to source answers and resources across Unity and obtain...

17 November 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Xbox and Inworld AI forge game-changing alliance

Xbox has unveiled a partnership with Inworld AI aimed at transforming game development using AI-powered tools.

In a blog post, Haiyan Zhang, General Manager of Gaming AI at Xbox, reflected on the evolution of gaming AI from the days of Ms Pac-Man to the present. Zhang highlighted the transformative potential of modern AI in creating living worlds, dynamic narratives, and intricate characters.

While traditional rule-based AI set the foundation, the integration of Large...

6 November 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Unity CEO John Riccitiello ‘retires’ following controversies

Unity CEO John Riccitiello has “retired” amid controversies that have plagued the company under his watch. 

“It’s been a privilege to lead Unity for nearly a decade and serve our employees, customers, developers and partners, all of whom have been instrumental to the company’s growth,” said Riccitiello.

“I look forward to supporting Unity through this transition and following the company’s future success.”

Unity recently created widespread...

10 October 2023 | Development Tools

Unity’s runtime fee controversy: Diving into the why and how

unity game engine runtime fee controversy development coding programming

The recent rollercoaster ride of Unity's controversial runtime fee rollout has left the game development community bewildered and seeking answers.

After an initial announcement — followed by modifications and a reannouncement — Unity's President, Marc Whitten, addressed the issue in a live fireside chat on YouTube, attempting to shed light on the reasons behind this turbulent rollout.

Apologies for missteps

Whitten began by offering a heartfelt apology to the...

26 September 2023 | Development Tools

Details emerge around Unity’s fee changes after outcry

Details have emerged regarding the proposed changes to Unity’s controversial per-install fee plan for developers.

These changes come in response to the outcry and concerns raised within the game development community about Unity’s recently announced new fee structure potentially bankrupting developers.

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, known for his in-depth coverage of the gaming industry, has shed light on the potential modifications during a Unity all-hands...

19 September 2023 | Developer

Inworld and its AI NPCs are now valued at $500M

Inworld, a trailblazing company at the forefront of AI and gaming, has just closed a fundraising round where it raised a further $50 million.

This latest capital infusion – backed by prominent investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Stanford University, First Spark Ventures, Samsung Next, LG Technology Ventures, and existing investors like Microsoft’s M12 fund and Intel Capital – brings Inworld's total funding to over $120 million since its inception in...

3 August 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UKIE publishes guidance on loot boxes

UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) has published new principles to address concerns surrounding loot boxes in video games and provide better protections for players. 

The industry body has published 11 principles in total, developed by the Technical Working Group convened by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). These principles aim to ensure that loot boxes are used responsibly and transparently within video games.

John Whittingdale, Minister for...

19 July 2023 | Developer

Steam won’t distribute games with AI assets (for now)

Valve recently addressed the controversy surrounding its stance on distributing games featuring AI-generated art and content via its Steam storefront.

Reports emerged last week suggesting that Valve was refusing to distribute games featuring AI-generated assets, sparking a debate within the gaming community. However, in a statement to IGN, Valve spokesperson Kaci Aitchison Boyle clarified the company's position.

Aitchison Boyle emphasised that Valve is not attempting to...

3 July 2023 | App Stores