Unreal Engine Pricing Update for Non-Gaming Industry

Epic Games has unveiled a new pricing structure for its Unreal Engine, specifically targeting developers outside of the gaming sector. According to a recent blog post, the upcoming Unreal Engine 5.4, set to launch in late April, will introduce a seat-based subscription model for non-gaming industries. This annual subscription, priced at $1,850 per user, will grant access to Epic's Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, a real-time visualization tool, and RealityCapture, a photogrammetry software. Although these products will still be available for individual purchase, their annual subscription prices have been adjusted. The annual cost of Twinmotion will be $445, while RealityCapture's seat-based subscription will be $1,250 per user. Epic Games has reaffirmed that its licensing model for game developers will remain unchanged, with developers paying a 5% royalty fee only after their game exceeds $1 million in revenue. The company has also confirmed that Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, and RealityCapture will remain free for students, educators, and hobbyists, as well as developers earning less than $1 million in revenue. "Our aim is to keep our tools free for as many users as possible, especially those who are just starting out," the company stated. "These pricing adjustments are designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of Unreal Engine development, enabling us to continue providing the most advanced creator tools to all industries – from large corporations to small studios and individuals." Epic CEO Tim Sweeney initially announced these pricing changes at Unreal Fest 2023, which took place last October.