German video game company Crytek has decided to shift its business plan to a "Pay What You Want" model for its new VR-enabled game engine CryEngine V. The new business model offers developers full access to the engine's feature-set and full engine source code of the development engine without a set price.
The announcement, as published by Crytek, revealed that users are not obligated to pay to access CryEngine's set and full engine source code. The company doesn't even ask users to pay any amount of royalties or any additional service charges for games made in the software.
However, users who decide to make a contribution for utilizing the updated development tool can allocate up to 70 percent of the sum to Crytek's new Indie Development Fund. The program will collect the money to directly support promising indie projects around the world.
VR is a big new feature in Crytek's CryEngine V. According to VentureBeat, the company is aware that VR is expected to become a $30 billion industry by 2020, and has been investing a lot of resources to achieve the technology. The company claims that the new engine is the "most accessible, powerful, and feature-filled version of their all-in-one development solution to date". With CryEngine V, users will be well-equipped to create VR experiences for PlayStation, VR, OSVR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
Besides VR, CryEngine V has also seen a key evolution called the CryEngine Marketplace. The Marketplace will allow developers to access and buy assets from the vast database of Crytek's library, including thousands of materials, sounds, and 3D objects to support the game development project. The library assets are created by the CryEngine community and other trusted vendors. According to WIRED, the Marketplace will be a feature that would help Crytek monetize the engine with the new "Pay What You Want" business model.
Crytek founder and CEO Cevat Yerli stated the company's insights on the business model change. "CryEngine V represents our commitment to not only offering developers today's most advanced engine technology but also to making it as accessible as possible. The arrival of CryEngine Marketplace, the revamped engine UI, and new support channels will make it easier than ever to tap into the power of CryEngine - at a price that feels comfortable for each and every individual," Yerli said. He also noted how community is the heart of the new business model, as the company hopes to foster closer collaboration between themselves and developers.
Crytek's new "Pay What You Want" business model will allow game developers use its CryEngine V for a price that feels comfortable. Users are not obliged to pay, but can choose to contribute to the company's program to support promising indie projects around the world.
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