Microsoft has announced that it will be abandoning the microtransaction model for Project Spark, a user-friendly game creation engine for PC and Xbox. Going forward, Project Spark will be totally free to use, and all paid downloadable content (DLC) will be automatically unlocked for all users.

“Project Spark’s goal has always been to empower creativity. We’ve been an incubation engine for ideas from epic to artistic and we plan to continue doing so,” Rahul Sandil, Head of Project Spark Acquisition/Engagement, said in a statement. “Project Spark inspires and empowers over 200,000 creators who have shared tens of millions of custom objects, behaviors and experiences. Every day we see anywhere between 300 and 400 new games being uploaded on our platform. Our support of these creators and our communications with them will continue in an open, free and collaborative environment.”

Project Spark will also be getting an update that adds new content and features, including (via Xbox.com):

• The maximum terrain limit in creations has been doubled
• The maximum prop limit in creations has been increased by 500
• 200+ new assets have been added in game, including a dragon, goblin warlord, bog biome and a set of new primitive building blocks
• Each creator will now have a total of 100 Upload Slots for their creations
• UGC ranking will be based on downloads and favorites, instead of upvote/downvote ratings
• The Project Spark Marketplace has been removed
• The Project Spark Tour and Treasure Trove have been removed
• Achievements have been revamped for players and creators

The new free model will go into effect on October 5. Users who had purchased digital content, in-game tokens, or a retail copy of Project Spark on or after July 28 will be eligible to receive a refund in Microsoft store credit, but any content purchased before that date is non-refundable.

Microsoft stated that it would be moving away from producing new DLC for the game creator, saying, “Microsoft will pivot from producing DLC and active feature development to encouraging more user generated content and opening the Project Spark experience.”

Image courtesy of Microsoft Corp