GameMaker’s GMRT runtime will soon be free for all developers
By Logo via GameMaker, graphic by Africa Studio via Adobe Stock.
Creators utilizing GameMaker will shortly be able to publish their games at no cost on platforms such as PC, mobile, browser, and GX Games. This is being facilitated by a fresh update from the Opera-owned game engine developer, which will enable its fairly new GMRT runtime to be freely accessible beginning January 1, 2027.
Previously, creators were required to obtain a professional license to publish games on GMRT or GMS2, the former runtimes for GameMaker. The organization unveiled GMRT in April 2026, introducing new tools to the cherished 2D game engine, including support for workflows with AI-assisted programming on Claude Code.
In a statement regarding the announcement, a company representative remarked that this modification is part of the organization’s plan to make indie game development on GameMaker “easier to access.”
“Creators will enjoy increased flexibility in their engagement with GameMaker and a streamlined commercial model for their upcoming projects,” they mentioned. “The community will also have the opportunity to investigate GameMaker’s technology, customize it for their particular project needs, and possibly contribute to its development.”
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Creators who already possess a professional license will still have the ability to distribute games via the GMS2 runtime and will “gain advantages” from access to the GMS2 runtime source code. Creators intending to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch 2 will still be required to obtain an enterprise license.
This notification from GameMaker arises during a noteworthy period for game engine platforms, which have followed various diverging directions in the aftermath of the Unity Runtime Fee controversy of 2023, all seemingly converging around the theme of accelerating game development. Industry giants Unity and Epic Games have declared the integration of LLM-based coding assistance in the forthcoming versions of their game engines, while Unity is investigating further intriguing new features like utilizing a browser interface to allow developers to update builds without having to launch the entire Unity development environment.
