Epic has made Megascans free to all – but only until the end of 2024
Originally posted on 17 September 2024, and updated for the reactivation of Bridge.
Epic Games is making content from Megascans, its popular online library of real-world 3D scan data, available to everyone for free, not just users of Unreal Engine.
With the launch of Fab, Epic’s new ‘open marketplace’ for stock CG content, users can download and use Megascans content under the Fab Standard license.
The assets will remain free until the end of 2024, after which Epic will begin charging for most of the content, including to use it in Unreal Engine projects.
Find our FAQs on the changes below.
What is Megascans?
The “world’s largest scanned 3D asset library”, Megascans is an online library of 3D scans of real-world objects like rocks, plants, buildings and props, plus materials and 2D textures.
The content is widely used in a range of markets, including game development, architectural visualization, motion graphics, VFX and virtual production.
How was Megascans content previously licensed?
Epic Games originally acquired Megascans in 2019, along with original developer Quixel, making the content available to use for free in projects created in Unreal Engine, its game engine.
Users of other game engines and DCC tools required a subscription to download and use Megascans assets, which operated on a points-based system.
Assets were originally downloaded via a free Bridge app, or the integrated version in Unreal Engine, also used to download MetaHuman characters generated via MetaHuman Creator.
How has access to Megascans changed with the launch of Fab?
That changes with the launch of Fab, with Megascans content moving from the Quixel website and Bridge to Fab and its integration in Unreal Engine.
Until the end of 2024, Megascans assets will be free under Fab’s Standard license, for use in “all engines and tools”, including in commercial projects, with the restrictions set out in the EULA.
According to Epic’s blog post announcing the changes: “When you acquire Quixel content on Fab – whether free or paid – you can use it forever.”
How much will Megascans content cost in future?
However, in 2025, Epic will begin charging for Megascans assets, “to support the ongoing improvement, curation and development of new Megascans content”.
“While we will continue to offer some content for free, the majority of Megascans will no longer be available for free unlimited use in Unreal Engine projects”.
Instead of being purchasable with points, Megascans assets will be priced individually.
Prices for individual 2D and 3D assets will start at $0.99, procedural asset kits at $4.99, and asset packs at $24.99.
Why is Epic making the changes to Megascans?
The change follows Epic’s decision to start charging large studios subscription fees for using Unreal Engine in non-games projects, after having to lay off 16% of its staff last year.
What is happening to the Quixel Bridge? (Updated 25 November 2024)
After the launch of Fab, Epic removed the download link for the Bridge from its product page on the Quixel website.
It has now has restored the link, along with the option to acquire Megascans via the Bridge.
According to an email from Quixel to subscribers: “Many of our community members were justifiably frustrated that Bridge was replaced by an alternative that did not meet their needs.”
Users can now access the content they had previously added to their Megascans library via the Bridge until 31 December 2024.
Epic says that it is working on an equivalent desktop app for Fab, and that it will not discontinue Bridge until “Fab offers a comprehensive alternative” to it.
What is happening to Quixel Mixer?
Mixer, Quixel’s free material-authoring tool, is now no longer available to download, with the old product webpage redirecting to Fab.
The software hadn’t been updated since Mixer 2022.1 was released two years ago, with Epic hinting at the time that it might “be one of the final updates to Mixer” in its current form.
Over 17,000 assets from the Megascans library can now be downloaded free on Fab.
How can Megascans content be downloaded for free?
Megascans content downloaded via Bridge is covered by the old Epic Content License, which only permits use of the assets for free in Unreal Engine.
With the launch of Fab, anyone can download the content under the new Standard license by visiting the Quixel profile on the site.
You have to add the content to your Fab library to have the new license apply: it isn’t enough just to download the files.
At the time of writing, that has to be done individually for each asset, but Epic is “working on a solution” to add all Megascans to your library in one go.
How many assets are available free?
According to Epic, there are over 17,000 free assets from the original Megascans library, plus 10 further asset packs released with the launch of Fab.
Fab users will also be able to download any Megascans published between now and the end of 2024 for free.
Read Epic Games’ FAQs about the free Megascans assets
Read Epic Games’ FAQs about the wider changes to Megascans
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