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Game Development · head to head

GameMaker Studio 2 vs Perforce Helix Core

GameMaker Studio 2 logo

GameMaker Studio 2

Game Development

The fastest way to create games. For everyone.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Perforce Helix Core logo

Perforce Helix Core

Game Development

Centralised version control for multi-terabyte binary game projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GameMaker Studio 2 the free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99; Perforce Helix Core the free tier covers only a handful of users, which maps badly onto how the product is actually used, because asset version control is needed by the whole studio, artists and audio staff included, not by the engineers alone.
  • They diverge on capability: GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, Perforce Helix Core covers Exclusive checkout.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GameMaker Studio 2 and Perforce Helix Core actually diverge.

Attributes where GameMaker Studio 2 and Perforce Helix Core differ
AttributeGameMaker Studio 2Perforce Helix Core
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, SwitchWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded1999Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Game Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GameMaker Studio 2

  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • GML programming language
  • Sprite editor
  • Animation frames
  • Sound editor
  • Room editor
  • Particle effects
  • Physics system

Only in Perforce Helix Core

  • Exclusive checkout
  • Very large depots
  • Streams branching
  • Proxies and edge servers
  • Unreal and Unity integration
  • Fine grained permissions

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GameMaker Studio 2

  • Building 2D games for desktop, web and mobilenot Perforce Helix Core
  • Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot Perforce Helix Core
  • Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot Perforce Helix Core

Perforce Helix Core

  • A studio where artists and designers version hundreds of gigabytes of uncompressed assetsnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Unreal Engine projects that want the engine to talk to source control directlynot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Console development where platform holders and publishers expect an auditable centralised depotnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Distributed teams with outsourcing partners who need path-level access to part of the project onlynot GameMaker Studio 2

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GameMaker Studio 2

  • The free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
  • Console exports are available only on the Enterprise subscription, which is billed at $79.49 per month
  • Source code access is limited to the Enterprise tier
  • Older Creator and Indie subscriptions are no longer renewed when the licence expires
  • Owners of a permanent GameMaker Studio 2 licence get no discount toward current licences

Perforce Helix Core

  • The free tier covers only a handful of users, which maps badly onto how the product is actually used, because asset version control is needed by the whole studio, artists and audio staff included, not by the engineers alone.
  • Beyond the free tier pricing is quoted per seat and renewed annually, and it does not scale down for contractors or outsourcing partners who touch the depot for a single milestone and still consume a full licence.
  • It is centralised, so when the server or the connection to it is unavailable, work stops for everyone; edge servers reduce this but add another system to run.
  • Administration is a genuine role. Depot layout, streams, protections, proxies, checkpoints and backups all need someone who knows Perforce, and that person is expensive and hard to replace.
  • Exclusive checkout prevents merge conflicts on binaries but blocks colleagues outright; a file locked by someone on leave needs administrator intervention, which turns a holiday into a production stoppage.

Pricing, plan by plan

GameMaker Studio 2

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Desktop game creation
    • Community support
    • Standard export options
  • Pro$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Advanced export modules
    • Mobile platforms

Perforce Helix Core

Free
  • Helix Core$undefined/year
    • Free for a small number of users and workspaces, intended for evaluation and very small teams
    • Beyond that, per user licensing quoted annually by Perforce sales
    • Cloud-hosted and self-managed deployments both available

Which should you pick?

Choose GameMaker Studio 2 if

  • You need drag-and-drop interface.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
  • You also want gml programming language.
GameMaker Studio 2 review

Choose Perforce Helix Core if

  • You need exclusive checkout.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want very large depots.
Perforce Helix Core review

Questions people ask

Is GameMaker Studio 2 or Perforce Helix Core better?
Neither clearly leads. GameMaker Studio 2 starts at Free and Perforce Helix Core at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GameMaker Studio 2 or Perforce Helix Core?
GameMaker Studio 2 starts at Free and Perforce Helix Core at Free.
Does GameMaker Studio 2 or Perforce Helix Core run on more platforms?
GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch. Perforce Helix Core runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use GameMaker Studio 2 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is GameMaker Studio 2 best used for?
GameMaker Studio 2 is most often used for building 2d games for desktop, web and mobile, indie game development with a drag and drop and gml scripting workflow, publishing to consoles under an enterprise subscription. Of those, building 2d games for desktop, web and mobile and indie game development with a drag and drop and gml scripting workflow are not what Perforce Helix Core is typically brought in for.
What can GameMaker Studio 2 do that Perforce Helix Core cannot?
GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames. Perforce Helix Core covers Exclusive checkout, Very large depots, Streams branching, Proxies and edge servers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Perforce Helix Core: Why not just use Git with LFS?

Git assumes text files that merge and a full local history. Game projects have terabytes of unmergeable binaries. LFS handles the size but not the locking or the clone time, which is why studios past a certain size move to Perforce.

Perforce Helix Core: How much does it cost?

Perforce does not publish prices. It is free for a small number of users and workspaces, after which licensing is quoted per user annually and depends on volume and support level.

Perforce Helix Core: Can programmers keep working in Git?

Partly. Helix4Git bridges Git repositories into the Helix Core depot, but it is another component to run and does not remove the difference in workflow between the two systems.

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