Unreal Engine Announces New Pricing Model for Non-Game Developers starting with UE 5.4 in April

Unreal Engine, the popular game development platform developed by Epic Games, is undergoing a major pricing change for non-game developers. Starting with the release of Unreal Engine 5.4 in April, non-game developers will be charged $1850 annually 'per seat' for the use of the software. This change only applies to companies that do not develop games and have an annual revenue exceeding one million dollars.

This new pricing model will ensure that non-game developers who use Unreal Engine for purposes such as creating special effects for films or TV shows will be required to pay the annual fee of $1850 per user. However, hobbyists and students will be exempt from this charge.

Along with access to Unreal Engine, the annual fee of $1850 will also include access to Epic's Twinmotion visualization tool and RealityCapture photogrammetry software. For those who may only need access to one of these tools, Twinmotion will be available for $450 per year and RealityCapture will be available for $1250 annually.

It's important to note that this pricing change does not affect game developers who will continue to operate under the current royalty system. Game developers using Unreal Engine are subject to a five percent royalty on games that exceed $1 million in gross revenue. Additionally, this new subscription model will only be implemented for Unreal Engine 5.4 onwards and will not be applicable retroactively to older versions of the software.

Epic Games has stated that these pricing adjustments are aimed at better catering to the needs of non-game developers who utilize Unreal Engine for various purposes outside of game development. By introducing a fixed annual fee, Epic aims to provide a more transparent and predictable pricing structure for these users.

Overall, the changes in pricing for non-game developers using Unreal Engine signify a shift in how Epic Games aims to monetize the software for different types of users. Despite the introduction of the annual fee, it's clear that Epic Games remains committed to providing a robust and versatile platform for developers across various industries to create immersive and engaging experiences.