ArtStation is officially part of the Epic Games family, although it's expected to remain an independent platform despite the acquisition. Today almost marks the start of reduced fees for creators, with the platform lowering its 30% cut to 12%.
If you happen to be a Pro member, your fees dropped from 20% to 8% and 5% for self-promoted sales. The acquisition by Epic is expected to accelerate ArtStation's growth and provide creators with an improved service that gives them the "tools and platforms to thrive."
“We are thrilled that ArtStation is joining Epic as we work to accelerate the development and growth of the creator community worldwide,” said Marc Petit, VP and General Manager of Unreal Engine. “The ArtStation leadership team brings tremendous talent and an unparalleled track record of supporting a vibrant creator community and ecosystem. We look forward to working with them to provide creators with access to even more resources and tools, empowering them to do their best work.”
ArtStation isn't expected to see any radical changes beyond the favorable new pricing, although ArtStation Learning will also be free to members through the rest of 2021. The platform should remain an "independently branded platform" and will continue "its mission to empower creators to thrive."
“We’re excited for this next chapter of the ArtStation journey,” said Kevin Strike, COO and co-founder of ArtStation. “ArtStation grew into one of the largest creative sites on the internet and became the go-to showcase platform for our industry. As part of Epic, we’ll be able to accelerate ArtStation’s growth and help the creative community in ways we could only imagine before.”
Epic Games has been making moves to broaden its appeal, recently adding Spotify and even Itch.io to its Epic Games Store catalog. This latest acquisition is yet another move to expand its reach – and ArtStation members are probably thrilled about the new revenue sharing numbers.
To learn more about the ArtStation Marketplace adjustments, you can check out the official Earnings Calculator to see how your sales will change under the new rates.