Unreal Engine 5 Pricing Changes for 2024 - What You Need to Know
Unreal Engine has just announced a significant shift in its pricing structure, if you're utilizing Unreal Engine for industries outside of gaming, such as TV and film, you'll want to pay attention.
Unreal Engine has recently announced a significant adjustment in its pricing structure, but there's no need for game developers to feel concerned.
This alteration specifically targets industries beyond gaming, such as television and film production. If you fall into this category, it's essential to stay informed about how this pricing shift may impact your projects and budgets going forward.
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Table Of Contents
- Unreal Engine's New Pricing Model
- No Changes for Game Developers
- Changes for Non-Gaming Industries
- Features of the Seat-Based Subscription
- Transition for Existing Users
- Inclusions in the Subscription
- Understanding Twinmotion and Reality Capture
- Standalone Twinmotion and Reality Capture
- Summary
Unreal Engine’s New Pricing Model
Unveiled at last year's Unreal Fest in New Orleans, Unreal Engine disclosed its plan to implement a seat-based enterprise pricing model for industries beyond gaming, effective from 2024 onwards. This transformative update is slated to debut alongside Unreal Engine 5.4 in late April.
No Changes for Game Developers
It's crucial to clarify that these revisions do not impact game developers. Unreal Engine will continue to be freely accessible for students, educators, hobbyists, and companies generating less than $1 million in annual gross revenue. The current 5% royalty on game products making over $1 million in total revenue remains the same
Changes for Non-Gaming Industries
For sectors outside of gaming, such as film and TV, Unreal Engine is introducing a new seat-based subscription model.
Companies meeting specific criteria:
- You are a company that generates over $1 million in annual gross revenue
- You do not create games
- And you do not create applications that are licensed to third-party end users and rely on Unreal Engine code at runtime
Features of the Seat-Based Subscription
Under the new subscription model, users gain access to create linear content like films, TV shows, architectural visualizations, broadcast graphics, live event graphics, and immersive experiences such as theme park rides and interactive architectural walkthroughs.
Transition for Existing Users
Existing users of Unreal Engine 5.3 or earlier versions will not be affected by these pricing changes until they opt to update to version 5.4. These alterations solely pertain to users adopting Unreal Engine 5.4 onwards.
Inclusions in the Subscription
Each seat subscription provides access to Unreal Engine 5.4 and subsequent versions, alongside two compatible creative tools: Twinmotion and RealityCapture. Additionally, a 30-day free trial is included for all three products.
Understanding Twinmotion and Reality Capture
Twinmotion is a real-time visualization tool powered by Unreal Engine, enabling professionals across various domains—from architects and urban planners to designers in consumer products, transportation, and fashion—to effortlessly create high-quality images, panoramas, VR videos, and interactive presentations from design data.
On the other hand, RealityCapture enables the creation of ultra-realistic 3D assets and environments from photos and/or laser scans.
Standalone Twinmotion and Reality Capture
For those interested in standalone purchases, Twinmotion licenses will be available for $445 per year, while RealityCapture licenses will be priced at $1,250 per year. Both Twinmotion and RealityCapture will also be free for students, educators, hobbyists, and companies generating less than $1 million in annual gross revenue.
Summary
Understanding Unreal Engine's evolving pricing structure is essential for professionals across various sectors. Whether you're entrenched in gaming, film, architecture, or another domain, adapting to these changes will empower you to harness Unreal Engine's potent capabilities effectively.
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