Epic Games buys 3D model sharing platform Sketchfab for undisclosed sum

Sketchfab, a platform for selling and sharing 3D assets, has joined the Epic Games family. The company will now reduce its store fees and make some of its features free. The terms of the deal, however, remain undisclosed.

On July 21, Epic Games shared the news on its official website. Although Sketchfab will have a close partnership with the Unreal Engine team, it will remain an independent service.

One of the most important changes for creators using the platform will be the reduction of store fees from 30% to 12%. The company will also make its Sketchfab Plus plan free, allowing users to access all of its features at no cost.

People who already have the Plus plan will automatically get an upgrade to the Pro subscription, with an option to downgrade it at any time. More information about the changes can be found here.

“Joining Epic will enable us to accelerate the development of Sketchfab and our powerful online toolset, all while providing an even greater experience for creators. We are proud to work alongside Epic to build the Metaverse and enable creators to take their work even further,” Sketchfab CEO Alban Denoyel said.

Sketchfab, launched in 2011, not only lets people upload and sell 3D assets but also view 3D models in real-time on any platform. There are already 4 million assets available on the service.

In April, Epic Games also acquired ArtStation, a popular platform for artists, for an undisclosed sum. The list of the company’s string of M&A deals includes 3Lateral, Agog Labs, RAD Tools, Capturing Reality, Cubic Motion, and Psyonix.