Unreal Engine NOT FREE anymore? Let's figure it out!

After Unity announced it's new royalty strategy, which most of developers found very unpleasant, a lot of people found recent announcement of upcoming licensing changes in Unreal Engine disturbing. But let's not worry and figure out what actually has happened
0:00 Epic Games Layoffs
1:04 Subscription plan
2:37 What License has Epic Games right now
3:16 Who will be affected?
4:08 My thoughts
#unrealengine #maya #virtualproduction

[@postprocessed]

Links: Tim Sweeney speech: twitter.com/ImmatureGamerX/status/1709216675730542972 Tim Responded on @gamefromscratch Tweet explaining more details: twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1709731335147831316?s=20 Stating that: “Won't affect (small filmmakers). There will be minimum revenue thresholds for commercial projecrs, and student/educator use will remain free.” Thanks @johans7119 for finding this info!

[@KPEMJlEYOB]

Let's cancel them like unity if they do it

[@johans7119]

No problem 👍🏻

[@jose9758]

Quite frankly I’m happy as long as they don’t implement draconian monetization policies like Unity has (tried). It is however, a step towards that direction. Being in Ecuador I can tell you rn that most studios here are likely to outright pirate the software if the price is set too high. With that in mind, I’ve made a living off this tool for years now, and I’m actually glad they can keep innovating at breakneck pace. Let’s keep an optimistic outlook and hope for the best! Thank you for your work as I was amongst those who almost fell out of their seat with the news 😅

[@postprocessed]

Actually Tim clarified a little bit on that. Check out pinned comment!

[@VickySharma-hd9if]

Thank you so much for clearing out the words. I just wanted to ask what will happen to people like me who use Unreal engine for archviz purpose. Being in India means we dont really get that much money doing Realtime archviz as Real estate developers still prefers 2D renders. If the cost is high for individual license each year then it can cause us make less money actually. I hope they will figure out a way to support Artists like me who have just started to grow in this industry.

[@ninjagraphics1]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

[@Silpheedx]

Nice! Sounds pretty fair to me. And thank you so much for helping to clarify it all ❤

[@razaverses]

The problem is how will they detect whether any revenue is being generated or not. For e.g. an auto industry may use UE to produce interactive demo for their website which does not generate revenue. so I think they will outright charge everyone who are non-game dev as auditing is difficult to them. I think they will go with Houdini type license with classification and we would have to buy Indie license.

[@TheShoes43]

also interesting point if it prices itself above something like vray... because to make amazing cinematic shots UE / path tracing is still an offline render

[@melsayed.modesign]

Fantastic video. Thanks for bringing that up. I didn't know about this news. Actually I just switched to Unreal few days ago since I came from Octane, Redshift, C4D, 3ds Max and Maya since I was using them for over than 7 years. I found that Unreal alone is incredible and I will not be need to use Octane or Redshift or C4D; just max, maya and unreal and from there I discovered your amazing channel for unreal content which is unique. I am worried about this announcement of Unreal now but hopefully they will keep it for free, and I will not stop it and will keep learning till the company releases all the details. Also I will not switch from it now since your channel and your content made me love unreal so much more! Hopefully it will stay for free.

[@postprocessed]

Yes it will stay free for hobbyists and for personal projects. And if you would work on some big project, you can charge license costs )

[@melsayed.modesign]

@@postprocessed yeah that will make sense! And if they stayed on this decision, I will not think about switching to another software!

[@chhaysanlyathm1110]

Hello sir, does shipping means packaging the project? Also btw thanks for all your teaching videos, i learned a-lot from it.

[@postprocessed]

Yes it does, it’s packing the project and selling it

[@alexvaulin1140]

Thank you for clear explanation!

[@Xeno12373]

hey i know you made the unrecord video a while ago but can you please make a detailed video on how to make the head movement with the phone camera. im talking about when they were walking,running, head sway if you get what i mean.(sry to ask this but i cant find any tut anywhere else😅

[@postprocessed]

Ah mate I have seen the video let me share the link, there was a good tutorial on how to connect iPhone to in-game camera. I think this is the one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGiuiqaHrZ2UiKc

[@ohboyVisuals]

Thank you for the clarification, Mate!

[@postprocessed]

No prob mate! Let’s wait for final conditions and see where it goes!

[@DavidAhern]

Have never used Unreal Engine but have heard of it being used to control Christmas lights via DMX plug-in which I wanted to try. Guess I don't have to worry about a license. Hopefully I get the time to try it out.

[@hk6327]

thank you man i started 2 weeks ago because you motivate me ❤👌

[@arturholl1]

thank you so much amazing info!! could you make a tutorial with how to integrate a cg element ue with real footage usig aces please

[@postprocessed]

heeeey. that's actually a great Idea. I touched this topic briefly. But I think we need a full video for that

[@Photofoxchannel]

Great video, thank you!

[@postprocessed]

My pleasure!

[@ThatGuyNamedRick]

I'm interested to see what bypasses companies dealing with Film/Post production try to use to skirt around the new rules. Does an interactive Commercial showroom with a racetrack for a 2025 Ford Concept Vehicle Lineup count as a Commercial or Game? Both? It has interactive elements, but Ford isn't exactly making money off of the program itself... I don't know, I think blending of mediums is cool, we'll have to see what's in the future for this Engine, and until then I'll be divided between other engines as well. Hopefully Unreal Engine knicks it out the park with their agreements, the last thing I want is another Unity.

[@postprocessed]

That is exactly my question too. Also some car companies produce visualization and designs for internal usage only, which doesn't produce any revenue. Like I'm currently working in automotive and we do designs/lights/shots for higher management and our department builds zero profits as it never leaves the company. How would that be priced in this case? Or revenue from selling cars counts? We will see. They really need to come up with some nice strategy so companies won't quit using Unreal

[@johans7119]

​@@postprocessed so it would be easier for them to charge everyone a standard fee rather than figure out your individual company revenue. Either that or make the free version limited. With a computer game it's easy for them to see the revenue, but figuring out what each small company is doing would require a lot of reporting.

[@postprocessed]

@@johans7119 or if you are a company, you should buy enterprise license, like most of software does right now. And it is fine. But I really don’t want them to cut out features in free version

[@deovan98]

Thanks, good info

[@alyasVictorio]

That UE's 5% profit shared to Epic Games (also automatic instead of manually forced) was just a scratch in comparison to Unity's expensive new runtime fee, plus it doesn't affect our overall profits either. And UE 5.3 is the best for 3D (so great they don't need 2D support in order to be fair with 2D game engines tho-)

[@suryakamalnd9888]

When they said non game developers will be charged, I got scared cauz I'm a student and certainly don't have a bank ACC.. well, I am soon gonna start making animations for my youtube channel (Story for some are ready) and, I thought I had to pay.. but, I realised, 1 million in revenue is like 🤣.. so, I don't need to pay unreal.. until my animation studio (Voxsole Media Group) will become a real animation studio like pixar.. and not just a guy making shortfilms in unreal (right now its that) 🤣🤣😂😂 i feel so good now.. lol

[@niro2960]

Great Bro thanks i think it won't be free they will use a watermark when we are rendering out from UE & i don't know how they going to track us weather we are going to use it for a big production or just for a youtube video

[@postprocessed]

I don’t think they will go down for such bullshit like watermark. Anyway check pinned comment, there is some info!

[@darknetworld]

There will be pros and cons to them. But they need to pay staff, buildings, code developer to improve technologies and customer services. As well the game engine for game or application to match the customer format. I guess we are free loading from free game engine. Which you need server to handle user and bandwidth for assets store and forum and other things. Those are not free they need to pay for the server cost. Plus they need to pay for console game API fees and services and helpers to deal with indie to do those platform which cost money.

[@postprocessed]

Yes I think it is essential also to keep the business running, I am rooting for Epic Games and hope they won’t make anything like Unity. Unreal literally saved my life and stepped up my career during hard times and work crisis. Personally I am even happy to pay for license if they keep doing good stuff with the engine

[@feratube]

The payment for Unreal Engine was predictable and I knew it would be applied someday. But this is too early...There will be a lot of opposition from users.

[@ltvddvtl]

But so, if you use UE in a youtube channel which is monetized? Could be just a channel showing UE work and tutorials which is monetized, or could be a channel using for example UE to produce linear content and the channel is monetized, for example a cartoon channel. I wonder if you would need a license. And I hope it will be nowhere near Maya's pricing.

[@postprocessed]

I don't think it will require license for youtube videos... Tim said in his twitter that you should pass threshold in order to switch to paid version. I think KZbin revenues will not pass that threshold haha)) Probably that will only affect companies Yea his response by the link in pinned comment

[@ltvddvtl]

@@postprocessed That sounds more than fair. I guess they are more going after Hollywood with this. Fair enough. Barbie made almost 1.5 billion. They can afford and should help making UE better. :)

[@JasonAdank]

not surprising really. Giving it out for free for years was to build up a user base who will come to rely on their product. Switching to subscription once thats established was a clever business move and one many people saw coming. Question is, how wil they price it.....

[@postprocessed]

Yes, that's why I also suggest to wait and see how their plans will work. Some departments use unreal but not making profits of it. What will count as revenue in that case?

[@tejasparastekar7271]

Please.. make tutorial on adding displacement map in auto Material in ue 5.3 nanite displacement

[@metahimik]

In fact, all of my created uprojects are disappeared from my pc couple of days ago...

[@RockyMulletGamedev]

Sounds reasonable.

[@borrowedtruths6955]

I use Unreal Engine specifically for making short videos, with no intent to gain profit from them. I wonder if I'll need to pay a subscription fee?

[@postprocessed]

Tim responded on twitter and stated that there will be revenue threshold which you need to pass before you are obliged to payed version, check pinned comment

[@borrowedtruths6955]

@@postprocessed Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. Keep up the great tutorials.

[@postprocessed]

@@borrowedtruths6955 you are welcome mate! Will be pushing with new tutorials!!

[@PanoptesDreams]

People saw Unity imploding and just ran with Epic/Unreal doing the same. Gosh do I ever hate modern media. Thank you for your video.

[@postprocessed]

I think Unreal not imploding yet, and Tim actually said on twitter that for small filmmakers/arhcviz it will remain free. It will also have a revenue thresholds, so fingers crossed!

[@PanoptesDreams]

@@postprocessed I was saying there's a lot of misinformation and your video was great for getting the truth without the BS.

[@postprocessed]

@@PanoptesDreams uh. Sorry I read it diagonally, my bad

[@Lord_Vega]

Thank God I almost flipped out lol

[@EricYoungVFX]

I was in the film industry, I went to see a unreal engine virtual stage recently. They kept bragging about how "its free and costs us nothing, we only paid for the stage, then we charge people to use it lol".... They should definitely charge those rich spoiled brats in the film industry lol Edit: and charge them good lol

[@biohazardmars]

Epics is the company that fights for its community of developers. I think he won't spit on us as Unity.

[@postprocessed]

Yeah, I also believe so. Also he clarified in twitter that it would be free for learning and hobbyist. As there would be revenue threshold which you need to reach before license becomes paid. Fingers crossed

[@petertremblay3725]

If they do i will switch to godot period!

[@EricYoungVFX]

Its a good idea honestly. Its what unity should have done instead of destroying the trust of users by making a plan that makes people bankrupt.

[@DANCERcow]

If you actually did the math you'd have found that it would have not bankrupt any of not very little of developers!

[@johans7119]

I watched the video, were did he say that? "If you are never shipping a product that is royalty bearing, then you never pay any money at all." I can't find that quote.

[@postprocessed]

Its around 6 minute mark. Its hard to catch what he is talking. It starts when he says that he loves current 5% revenue

[@johans7119]

​@@postprocessedI'm pretty sure that just refers to game developers. Everyone else will have to pay a "Photoshop" like subscription. Not sure how this will be regulated (i.e. can someone in arch viz pretend to be making a game?) but they may have a system. I'm not sure if I will continue learning it without knowing the cost and terms. They really need to clarify this.

[@postprocessed]

@@johans7119 yes, you could be right. Anyway, as I mentioned, lets wait for plans and prices for better understanding how it is going work

[@johans7119]

​​@@postprocessedTim Sweeney does clarify it on X. I cannot post the link but he is responding to Game from Scratch. He says "Won’t affect. There will be minimum revenue thresholds for commercial projecrs, and student/educator use will remain free." Also he said: "We won’t be adding any sort of DRM to limit access to the software, just an interface making it easy to pay and manage company-associated accounts." So hopefully it is financially viable and he will keep to his word!

[@postprocessed]

@@johans7119 damn, I need to put it my video haha. I will check his twitter and probably will add it to pinned comment

[@yvngkuba]

Sooo... if I make games, it will still be free?

[@postprocessed]

Yup. Till you earn 1mln from selling the game

[@itscoldcoldwinter]

Fam i just started making deep space and black holes in unreal

[@postprocessed]

No worries you won’t be affected if you learn and not shipping any product)

[@ckdunahee4478]

This affects like 0.01 percent of indie devs

[@kazielbonn]

So a small youtuber wanting to make historical documentaries using CGI filmed in Unreal need to start paying for a license next year?

[@postprocessed]

If you pass the threshold of earnings from that. If you don’t - it’s still free. Tim clarified a bit on twitter. Check pinned comment, there is a link for discussion

[@kazielbonn]

@@postprocessed Ah thanks for the swift reply and link. 👍

[@MaxStudioCG2023]

so how patreon will be traeatted,youtube,the indian websites where you can publish to sell, those kind of platforms ? how do they know wich people making profit or not ...so i just learn so far making zero profit ...at least this not to be payd ,when il release a success game and will make alot money then i agreed to give a share t them haha :)))))

[@postprocessed]

So, Tim clarified that!! Check pinned comment!

[@bridge1444]

I'm always surprised by the naivety of the people.

[@nsyed3d]

They can obviously charge Virtual production guys easily and make it free for Hobbyist and freelancers

[@postprocessed]

Yes, I also believe that they will charge companies, but those who learn or hobbyist will continue enjoying free versions

[@OwLee69]

Bruh. How much you wanna bet that these sleazy Hollywood producers and gonna create a "Video game" simply just to shoot their ads in UE? 😂😂

[@petertremblay3725]

Since i have switch to blender maya or 3ds max is not anymore require for me, bye bye autodesk.

[@voodooaudio9488]

And your explanation is completely wrong. If you make animation videos, they will sue you and force you to pay exorbitant amounts even if all you ever made is 1 usd. You're just shilling this nonsense either by being paid by epic to lie or you're just way too gullible to be taken seriously.

[@postprocessed]

Hahahahhahaha

[@voodooaudio9488]

laugh all you want, but wait and see. Maybe you'll remember what I said, maybe you won't - it doesn't matter. but free ride is basically over@@postprocessed

[@ARMORHOUS3weplay]

Can I pay my subscription with V-Bucks???!!!