Is there any prohibition of using the editor (non source) with a plugin for UGC?
This is how it works
if user wants to make custom maps he would do the following:
Download the Unreal Launcher and get the editor
Download the project template and plugin from my repositories/site
Plugin would have shared code within user’s projects and the actual game
User would send the content to the Steam Workshop
Custom map is now available for everyone to play
I really need custom maps, but seeing that only few AAA games have mod support is very discouraging, not only license wise but the complexity to build and ship the game-specific-editor
So long as you’re not distributing the editor yourself, and it doesn’t sound like you are, then what you propose is ok. I’m assuming that your plug-in doesn’t fall under the definition of Engine Tools (pasted below).
“Engine Tools” means (a) editors and other tools included in the Engine Code; (b) any code and modules in either the Developer or Editor folders, including in object code format, whether statically or dynamically linked; and (c) other software that may be used to develop standalone products based on the Licensed Technology.
I guess it does fall under b) section, it would pretty much cook and package the content and upload the to the workshop with a user-friendly UI.
"Any public Distribution (i.e., intended for Engine Licensees generally) which includes Engine Tools (including as modified by you under the License) must take place either through the Marketplace (e.g., for distributing a Product’s modding tool or editor to end users) or through a fork of Epic’s GitHub UnrealEngine Network (e.g., for distributing source code). "
Does this mean it would be okay if the plugin goes into the marketplace instead? (rather than distributed from steam or download link) if i read carefully the full editor too?
Do you think i should go forward with a custom liense? The game this is for is been on best sellers (virtual reality) in steam since release. and i need this for the longevity of it
If it falls within the definition of Engine Tools, then you can’t distribute it from your website. You can distribute it through a branch on the UnrealEngine GitHub network though, since everyone there is already licensed to access the engine; that can be the full editor as well. The Marketplace is also a possibility, although that has to be approved by the Marketplace team.
When you say a custom license, I’m not sure what you mean. If you mean a custom Unreal Engine license, you are welcome to explore that but it won’t change Engine Tool distribution restrictions.
Technically and legally speaking, it would be okay to use a dummy engine branch to distribute my modding tools including my game’s specific editor in binary form?
By custom license, i mean a license that would allow me to have a mod kit like squad or ark. However reading the EULA carefully and your advice seems that isn’t needed, my first impression was the opposite! as there’s no other games i can recall that have mod support than those two