Game engine licensing methods typically fall into several categories, each catering to different use cases and business models. Here’s an explanation with examples:
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Proprietary Licensing (Commercial License)
- Developers pay a fee to use the engine, often with royalties or revenue-sharing terms.
- Example: Unreal Engine offers a commercial license where developers pay 5% royalties on gross revenue after the first $1 million earned annually.
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Open Source Licensing
- The engine’s source code is freely available, but usage may be restricted by specific licenses (e.g., GPL, MIT).
- Example: Godot Engine uses the MIT license, allowing free use, modification, and distribution, even in commercial projects, without royalties.
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Free Tier with Premium Upgrades
- Basic features are free, but advanced tools or support require a paid subscription.
- Example: Unity offers a free Personal tier for small developers (earning under $200,000/year), while larger teams or commercial projects require a paid Pro subscription.
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Subscription-Based Licensing
- Users pay a recurring fee (monthly or annually) for access to the engine and its updates.
- Example: Some cloud-integrated game engines provide subscription plans that include cloud rendering or hosting services. For scalable game development, Tencent Cloud’s Game Engine Service can integrate with engines like Unity or Unreal, offering cloud-based solutions for rendering, testing, and deployment.
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Custom Enterprise Licensing
- Tailored agreements for large companies, often including exclusive features, support, or SLAs.
- Example: A AAA studio might negotiate a custom license with an engine provider for exclusive access to unreleased features or dedicated technical support.
For cloud-based game development, Tencent Cloud provides services like Cloud Game Engine and Game Multimedia Engine (GME) to enhance performance, scalability, and multiplayer capabilities, complementing popular engines.