The end of GameMaker Server

Hi everyone!

As I announced a few years ago, GameMaker Server would stay online until the end of 2023 at the very least. Now that we're well into 2023, I'd like to share my plans for GameMaker Server in 2024 and beyond.

It is not my intention to end GameMaker Server abruptly. I would like GameMaker Server to become less and less relevant as it ages, until some day when I can shut it down without anyone even noticing.

GameMaker Server only supports GM8, GM8.1 and GM:Studio 1, which already means it is not a good choice for new projects. To further discourage new projects, you will no longer be able to register new games starting January 1st, 2024.

It is my intention to keep the server online for at least another year, until the end of 2024.

I will be releasing most of GameMaker Server's source code. This will be under (A)GPL or MPL licenses, allowing you to freely use the code in your own projects, provided that you share any modifications you make to the code.

I do not intend to support the source code in any way. I do not have the necessary free time to start community projects around the code. And most of this code is bad code that you wouldn't want to use anyway. But: you are free to start your own projects around the code, should you so desire.

I am hesitant to release code that is still in use, as I don't want to make it easier for attackers to find new ways to DDoS the servers or circumvent other security measures. So it will likely be a while before you'll get the source code for the server itself.

Today I started by uploading the source code forhttps://status.gamemakerserver.com/ -- which is a stand-alone webpage showing you GameMaker Server's server status.

If you are interested, the source code can be found on GitHub:https://github.com/size43-gamemakerserver

Enjoy!

- Size43

Replies (35)

But what will happen with games that have already been made, will they still playable?, will they be able to keep getting updates?

i don't think so, because when gamemaker dies well... i think every game that use gamemaker it's not wonna work, or idk it's just a theory

I would like to keep existing games online for as long as possible, but I cannot make promises.

I do intend to release the source code after GameMaker Server finally shuts down to help game preservation efforts.

Will DF Connected be gone? I'm really hoping not, it's my favourite game.

they'll add community servers.

Hey Size. A long time ago I ran accross your service and was amazed by its capabilities and community that was surely forming around it. I made a game called Project Amaranth using your services.

At some point, we decided to switch to GMS2 and thus had to move away. But my god, networking is hard. I have to commend you for how well put together the experience was over here. Nowadays, we use steam as a backbone and have to send our own packets and stuff.

I want to thank you for the experience here. Gamemaker Server is a BIG part of my early programming life. I'm still developing Amaranth to this day and a chunk of where it is now is in thanks to my experiences here. Thank you Size. You are amazing <3

Dude, maybe you should hand over the responsibility to someone else who will take care of the servers? I just don't want to say goodbye to this server.

a pesar de que algunos juegos se pierdan y otros prebalezcan no sera lo mismo. jaja esto me hace acordar a todos esos momentos en la bibilioteca en snowdin ojala nos volvamos a ver despues del cierre del servicio

cierto

eres la persona que menos esperaba encontrar aqui pero a la vez eras la mas probable de aparecer

Hi, I'm part of an GameMaker open source collective. Please swing by our Discord server and we can chat about ways to keep the service up and running:https://discord.gg/8krYCqr

This is actually sad. I'm currently trying to enjoy the last days of GMServer with DF connected.

I see this some months later and my reaction is like: The end is near.
But well, is a shame seeing some good online games server (or something like that) is just closing

Thank you so much Size for the experience this extension has given me over the many years, as I was trying to get started with multiplayer. You made the concept so much easier to grasp and the road I had while making games with this extension has been an absolute joy.

I wish you good fortune and will always look back on this as a happy memory from my inexperienced youth.

All the best.

Shavv

F.
R.I.P.

Wow, that's a bit sad, but it's the best way I can posibly think of doing it. Thx for it :)

hellooo

My name is Koray.And i would like to say...You cant finish me with your "Abuse of Service" ban,alright? I will not give up and wont stop ban evading in DF CONNECTED and other games like that.I wont give up until this server shut downs,alright buddy?You cant finish me with your abuse of service ban alright?Now have a great-bad day.And just to remind,Koray will not give up.I always come back.

Good work my man.

solo quiero decir 2 cosas como se llama la app que usaras para los nuevos server de DF y cuando por lo menos saldrá la actualización sigue así me encanto tu juego espero tu respuesta

This is extremely sad to me! But thanks for letting me and everyone else know about this!

So i guess this really is the end of the gamemaker server.

may it rest in peace

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

NOOOOOO PIZIZT ATOWAE NETWORK TIWILL BE GONNNE NOOOOO

this is a joke post btw guys :D

Do you mean that we should host games on our computers???

Thank you for your service GameMaker Server. You will be missed.

R.I.P Game Maker Server

unfortunate

WHYYYYYYYYYYYY RIP PIZZA TOWER NETWORKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK ITS OVERRRR PLEASE KEEP IT ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I have a question, do you want to create a new GameMaker Server for the current generations of it? I mean discontinue it for old versions like game maker 8.0 and 8.1 and continue it for GameMaker Studio and Studio 2?

Apologies for the delay.

I do not intend to create a new GameMaker Server. I don't have the time, and even if I did it would not make enough money to cover the costs.

It was nice of you to create the Game Maker Service in the first place though. I am a new developer but I am pretty sure that doing networking and stuff is pretty hard to do. Overall, it's sad you don't have a choice but to close down this amazing service but thank you for making this service to allow many awesome games to be made. It will be something that I'll never forget.

welp it's been a good time since i learned about this extrension, using this extension on one of my projects really made me learn new stuff on gamemaker 8/studio 1 and i've since moved to gms2 but still check the source code of some abandoned GMS project i had lying arround, i think i had one that i wanted to recreate super mario bros from the nes with multiplayer and another one based on pac-man but never got players working. it's been a great experience with this extension. i made a small (and now dead) community because of it. i know there's one year left and i'm just having the idea of a gms ending game like a memorial game o something that uses gms as a way to meet other users from gms, sound fun ngl

hello don't worry mario de la nes in multiplayer in gamemaker 8 I'm already doing it, out of nowhere I check the forum and I see that someone else wanted to do it and just yesterday I started it and the beta is ready hahaha