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Ex Ultra Engine ( Leadworks ) game engine: Difference between revisions

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==Consumer impact summary==
==Consumer impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):
* User Freedom: The perpetual license does not give you the rights to use the program that you purchased. You cannot use your purchased version or older versions, as they require you to be always online.  
* User Freedom: The perpetual license does not give you the rights to use the program “AS IS” at the time of purchase. You cannot use the purchased version offline, as they require you to be always connected to their server.
* User Privacy: There is no safer way to work with such product, other than using it from an internet-disconnected PC (or using a firewall). This product states in the EULA that has data tracking by default, with option to disable it ( which I have not tested ). The program is asking to be online for normal usage.
* User Privacy: There is no safer way to work with such a product, other than using it from an internet-disconnected PC (or using a firewall). This product states in the EULA that it has data tracking by default, with the option to disable it ( which I have not tested ). The program is asking to be online for normal usage.
* Business Model. Because they are selling monthly subscriptions, the perpetual license is invalid.
* Business Model. Because they are selling monthly subscriptions, the perpetual license is treated as a temporary license.
* Market Control. It disabled my purchased installation of the program. This can be easily done for any reasons in the future
}}
}}


==Incidents==
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
{{Placeholder box|Replace the placeholder text in the sections below with the incidents that affect this product and a short summary. Also replace the link so it point to the right product line or company article.}}
===Changing of the brand revealed that the program is actually remotely disabled===
===Changing of the brand revealed that the program is actually remotely disabled===
For many, the problem shared here may not seem as an issue, but I want to share the practices implemented in the program are "flexible" to mess your rights as they please, so please do not buy this product.
For many, the problem shared here may not seem as an issue, but I want to share that the practices implemented in the program are flexible enough to remove the rights under your purchase.  


I purchase a license at the beginning of 2025 with the goal of learning the engine and have a nice hobby. While I was learning some prerequisites for creating a game, the company decided to change the branding and go back to a previous used name.
I purchased a perpetual license at the beginning of 2025 with the goal of learning the engine and have a nice hobby. While I was learning some prerequisites for creating a game, the company decided to change the branding and go back to a previous used name.


While they can do what ever they want, I am expected to have my version and my installed instance working as expected, but they disable it and only available if I get the new client with a different name and some added features ( which I believe adds more tracking of my personal work TODO maybe someone can help with providing evidence that is not sending anything after "disable" is checked ) .
After a month or so I started the program and it was showing just an error “Please use the client application to log into your Ultra Engine account and ensure your license is active”. The perpetual license should not ask for re-checking the validity of the license and should work with what is installed. The license was verified at the time of installation and I was not expecting this to be disabled. As a user I should be allowed to not install the new features and enjoy the version of the program as it was at the time of purchase.


The company changed the EULA with the new name and also updated the login, so I can no longer use what I used when I purchased the product, as they now ask for a different login details.  
The company changed the EULA with the new name and also updated the login, so I can no longer use the credentials used when I purchased the product. This again shows that you have no ownership of the installed code.  


As it is clearly stated that the program tracks your personal details for "future improvements" I wanted to move the program to a PC that has no internet connection ( Also wanted to automate some builds in VMs ). I cannot do any of that, my local installation has been disabled, unless I am installing the new product. As I did not installed the new program I believe there is no fix to not have the service constantly connecting to the internet while using it.
As stated in the EULA “This SOFTWARE PRODUCT utilizes analytics to record statistics on actions performed within the software, in order to collect information to help improve the user experience. Analytics can be disabled in the program settings.“  I wanted to move the program to a PC that has no internet connection ( also wanted to automate some builds in VMs ). This usage of the software is still compliant with the EULA agreement and is actually not possible with the version installed.


If you are reading this and ask, why am I not installing the new program; please work with this answer "I am not allowed". ( also that is not the point )
Another line in the EULA “This SOFTWARE PRODUCT is for personal use only and may be used by the Licensee, on one or more computers”. There is no mention that it requires an internet connection to use it, nor that I am forced to update or that it can be disabled remotely.  


As stated in the EULA, this is a program that I can install and use. There is no mention that it requires internet connection to use it, nor that I am forced to update or anything in that regards. It clearly states that is sold "AS IS".
A compliant solution: inside the user's account on the ultra engine site there should be a button to download the program and use it wherever we want/need and we can release games royalty-free. By having the download button under the account on their site, the license is confirmed so there is no need to contact the server while using it.  


The solution is quite simple, inside my account on ultra engine I should be able to download the program and use it wherever I want and I can release games with no royalties to be paid. By having the download button in my account on their site, the license is confirmed so there is no need to track my work or disable my local installation remotely.
I am not sure if what just happened is intentional, but with the decision to change the domain, this obvious problem popped up and I am not able to use what I purchased.
 
I am not sure if what just happen is intentional, but with the decision to change the domain, this obvious problem popped up and I politely asked for a fix in their forum and on their discord channel, but the owner refuses to respond.  


The open ticket:
The open ticket:
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The owner of the program is available on discord and I posted there in hopes it will add some comments or provide a fix.
The owner of the program is available on discord and I posted there in hopes it will add some comments or provide a fix.


Unfortunately my message was ignored by him and others offered me “help” to just update the client when that is not the point.  
Unfortunately my message was ignored by the owner and others only offered me help to just update the client, without consideration of my initial request.  


I also checked recent release notes, and I did not find the fix that one of the users was mentioning.
I also checked recent release notes, and I did not find the fix that one of the users was mentioning. The assumption is, it will continue to require an internet connection for normal usage.


[ Page showing the release of the new client https://www.leadwerks.com/community/topic/61318-release-notes/page/29/ ]
[ Page showing the release of the new client https://www.leadwerks.com/community/topic/61318-release-notes/page/29/ ]
[[File:Screenshot 2025-04-01 005812.png|thumb]]






 
Results on discord request: There is no response from the owner hence no fix is expected.  
 
Conclusion: The owner ignores my messages and it does not want to fix the issue with my perpetual license.
 
It is in clear violation of the EULA for the perpetual license and you should not buy this product.  
 
 
 
 
==See also==
==See also==



Revision as of 00:07, 1 April 2025

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Ultra Engine
Basic Information
Release Year 2025
Product Type Software PC gaming engine
In Production Yes, in development
Official Website https://www.ultraengine.com

Leadwerks program is an gaming engine that shares multiple types of licenses, one of them being perpetual ( for single user ).

Game developers are required to code their game using the code that powers the engine. As this practice is tightly coupled with the interface of the gaming engine, games cannot be ported to other gaming engines. Having a game engine that can be disabled remotely should convince you to not trust the owner of the engine and save yourself from losing years of your work.

The software is adding more and more features that track your work. Yes, you can disable that but forcing you to update, they can add more code to simply bypass that.

If you want to work offline, to avoid sharing your personal data, you are not allowed as it claims that you need to “prove that you have a valid license”

Consumer impact summary

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User Freedom: The perpetual license does not give you the rights to use the program “AS IS” at the time of purchase. You cannot use the purchased version offline, as they require you to be always connected to their server.
  • User Privacy: There is no safer way to work with such a product, other than using it from an internet-disconnected PC (or using a firewall). This product states in the EULA that it has data tracking by default, with the option to disable it ( which I have not tested ). The program is asking to be online for normal usage.
  • Business Model. Because they are selling monthly subscriptions, the perpetual license is treated as a temporary license.

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.

Incidents

This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Ex Ultra Engine ( Leadworks ) game engine category.

Changing of the brand revealed that the program is actually remotely disabled

For many, the problem shared here may not seem as an issue, but I want to share that the practices implemented in the program are flexible enough to remove the rights under your purchase.

I purchased a perpetual license at the beginning of 2025 with the goal of learning the engine and have a nice hobby. While I was learning some prerequisites for creating a game, the company decided to change the branding and go back to a previous used name.

After a month or so I started the program and it was showing just an error “Please use the client application to log into your Ultra Engine account and ensure your license is active”. The perpetual license should not ask for re-checking the validity of the license and should work with what is installed. The license was verified at the time of installation and I was not expecting this to be disabled. As a user I should be allowed to not install the new features and enjoy the version of the program as it was at the time of purchase.

The company changed the EULA with the new name and also updated the login, so I can no longer use the credentials used when I purchased the product. This again shows that you have no ownership of the installed code.

As stated in the EULA “This SOFTWARE PRODUCT utilizes analytics to record statistics on actions performed within the software, in order to collect information to help improve the user experience. Analytics can be disabled in the program settings.“  I wanted to move the program to a PC that has no internet connection ( also wanted to automate some builds in VMs ). This usage of the software is still compliant with the EULA agreement and is actually not possible with the version installed.

Another line in the EULA “This SOFTWARE PRODUCT is for personal use only and may be used by the Licensee, on one or more computers”. There is no mention that it requires an internet connection to use it, nor that I am forced to update or that it can be disabled remotely.

A compliant solution: inside the user's account on the ultra engine site there should be a button to download the program and use it wherever we want/need and we can release games royalty-free. By having the download button under the account on their site, the license is confirmed so there is no need to contact the server while using it.

I am not sure if what just happened is intentional, but with the decision to change the domain, this obvious problem popped up and I am not able to use what I purchased.

The open ticket:

https://www.leadwerks.com/community/topic/68238-violation-of-end-user-license-agreement/


Incident on discord channel

The owner of the program is available on discord and I posted there in hopes it will add some comments or provide a fix.

Unfortunately my message was ignored by the owner and others only offered me help to just update the client, without consideration of my initial request.

I also checked recent release notes, and I did not find the fix that one of the users was mentioning. The assumption is, it will continue to require an internet connection for normal usage.

[ Page showing the release of the new client https://www.leadwerks.com/community/topic/61318-release-notes/page/29/ ]


Results on discord request: There is no response from the owner hence no fix is expected.

See also

New EULA does not include the Ultra Engine that was sold for many years: https://www.leadwerks.com/eula

The product page shares that you are supposed to own the product at the time of purchase. https://www.leadwerks.com/community/store/product/13-leadwerks-5/

References