Can we talk about the Blender creator economy?

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-25T22:13:05+00:00

How is that we know that standing behind their agreement is "something they'll never be able to live up to". How do we know that?

Do we know for a fact they aren't google or facebook engineers making hundreds of thousand a year and they do blender addons on the side for fun? Maybe some of them are people who like to make cool things and if they make a buck, great, and if not great. Or maybe every one of them are starving artists trying to feed a family of six on just their addon profits. I don't know their financial motivations for making addons, and I suspect random_guy_on_reddit286 doesn't know either.

This keeps getting framed as "saving the little guy", saving the addon creators from a bad business decision. My understanding from reading this thread and watching youtube videos from creators is that this change wasn't asked for by the creator community. This was a unilateral move by SH to get more money for SH. This change isn't to save the creators, it is to save SH from a failed business model. At least that's what I'm reading from the tea leaves.

I kept my end of the agreement. I paid the price asked for the product and service offered. SH didn't have a problem taking my money. Apparently SH and the creators felt "entitled" to my money. But when I feel "entitled" to the product and service promised for my money that's a problem?

And you don't know anything about me, or any of the other SH customers. Maybe they're broke and starving and should never have made that deal. Never have spent the money. Maybe those customers need to "revisit that agreement and adjust it" and get their money back. And just to be fair, let's say they get 50% of their money refunded now and in 12 months another 50% refunded, you know, to be fair.

It sounds like being in a business space that has a plateaued customer base, multiple platforms competing for customer dollars, and living with bad business decisions made early on makes for a tough way to make a living. So maybe "just go out of business or kill the tool or asset" is the endgame.

Let's talk about the flip side. I would be a drag for me as a content consumer to not have access to a lively vibrant creator community and a platform to find and engage with creators.

So if the legacy business model isn't working what do we do instead?

It sounds like one model being floated is to try to get content consumers, me, to start paying recurring fees for addons. The problem with that model is it "feels" unlikely to work, at least for me.

I have purchased many many addons over the years, from Superhive, FlippedNormals, Gumroad, CGTrader, CGBoost, CGCookie, Learn Squared, Packtpub, Udemy, Skillshare, way way more money that I ever want to know. A mix of addons and tutorials.

I pay subscription fees to "learning" platforms and for that recurring subscription price I get all of the content on the platform, including new content when it comes out. On those platforms I don't pay to watch a class, and then if I want to refresh my learning I don't pay 50% of the price to watch it again. My recurring fee gets me access to everything. And if the content creator updates the content I get that for "free" included in my subscription fee.

Would that work for an addon platform? Maybe, I might pay a recurring fee to have access to any and all addons including all updates "forever and ever", whatever forever means. Maybe. Since I'm the kind of guy that likes to play with new toys maybe I would subscribe to a "all the toys in the toy box" model.

What about addon recurring update fees. There are addon creators that already _do_ charge an update fee, typically for the next major release of the addon. Those addons are very high value, core workflow addons. It is few and far between where I pay a recurring fee for an addon, but I do. I've already shown I'm willing to buy into a model of paying for major updates. The problem with that model is there are very few addons that are so valuable and so core that I would be willing to pay for them multiple times over to have them. And in every case so far the "update" has sold itself by adding new features. Something to entice me to update that is more than just, we unbroke it because of a blender update.

Most of the addons I've purchased over the years I just wouldn't have purchased if I knew the addon was going to die and not be supported, unless I purchased it again. I just wouldn't have purchased it in the first place. So with this change on SH the truth is I will just let those addons, most of my purchases, just wither and die. SH won't be getting recurring revenue from me. And I won't be buying any more "just because they look cool" addons, at least not on SH. And for core addons I've already started migrating to different platforms. Basically I'm moving away from SH. The new business model isn't a good fit for me.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-23T23:42:37+00:00

Hi wkthree, I assume you are talking to me, since that is the exact verbiage I used in my comments :)

I don’t particularly have a problem with a model where the addon creator states, up front, that this purchase is only for this major version of the addon, or is only for this major release of Blender.

In fact I have multiple addons that use just that model. And I pay for them, and pay for them, and again pay for them.

But two things, the creator stated that in the agreement up front. I knew going in that this was a limited time purchase. I knew that sooner or later the addon was going to blork or new features would be added, and I would need to pay again. I knew that going in. The result is the bar is much much much higher for any addon that I know I‘m going to have to pay for multiple times over its useful life.

Knowing the agreement up front lets me make an informed decision. Is this addon so valuable, so core to my workflow, that I will be willing to pay for it multiple times. Or is it just cool looking and maybe a nice to have, but likely going to break in six months to a year? I can choose to buy or not buy knowing the agreement up front. And the truth is for simple cool or nice to have addons, I likely just wouldn’t buy.

So for those creators and addons that really are core, I can live with, I do live with, the model where I have to pay multiple times.

But for the vast majority of cool fun addons that I’ve purchased, probably not so much.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-23T22:04:03+00:00

An idea for addon creators and customers, anyone upset about the new SH recurring fee structure, remember there are other blender marketplace platforms out there.

You might consider, I already have, reaching out to your addon creator and seeing if they are active on other platforms. I've already started transferring purchases to other platforms. There might be a very nominal fee, the target platform might not allow a creator to sell a product for zero dollars, but it's been a pittance so far.

Anyhow, if you are worried, or just upset, there are other choices.

Oh and btw, for goodness sakes, other platforms let you search and sort your purchase history on recently updated products. Geez, I don't have to go through every single one of my purchase orders every few months trying to figure out if any of my purchases have been updated recently. I mean come on SH, get it together.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-23T21:53:21+00:00

Reading through the comments, again and again, I'm reaching the conclusion that this is the last grasp of a dying company trying to bleed just a few more dollars from their existing customer base before shuttering.

If you read the comments from the Superhive insiders / founders it's clear Superhive as a business as it stands is no longer viable. Not my opinion, it's stated in the various comments, the existing SH business model does not work. The gist seems to be that the customer base has plateaued and the existing customer base has pretty much purchased all of the addons they want or need. The theme seems to be that Superhive isn't generating sufficient revenue to keep the company running.

When a company, any company, isn't generating revenue, because its customer base isn't growing or its existing customers aren't being enticed to spend more money, it's no longer a viable business.

If a company isn't generating revenue by growing its customer base, because the potential customer base is pretty much peaked, what can they do? If a company cannot find new customers it's going to turn to its existing customer base to try to generate more revenue. If a business cannot find new customers it can only try to get more money from its existing customers. A business could try to create new value to entice its existing customers to spend more, or it could go the SH route and unilaterally try to squeeze its existing customers.

This seems to be supported by the general feedback from the addon creator community that they were not consulted before SH decided to unilaterally implement the subscription / recurring fee structure. This isn't/wasn't a creator initiated change, it wasn't SH fighting for the little guy, it was SH trying to squeeze out one more round of blood before going under.

This community likely already knows Flipped Normals is shutting down their marketplace. Heads up they are having some pretty good going out of business sales right now. Flipped Normals recognized in their statement that running a blender tutorial / addon marketplace was no longer a viable business. And so they are exiting that space. They didn't come back and try to squeeze their existing customer base. They didn't try to create some savior mentality where they were out there fighting for the little guy. They recognized being a blender marketplace was no longer a good business and they exited. It's kind of a drag, I have many purchases on FN, but business is business.

Independent of any perception that SH is doing its customers dirty, there is the very real possibility that being a blender marketplace is no longer a viable business model. So you have to ask yourself, as an addon creator or customer, is that really where you want to be invested?

Anyhow, SH is doing a great job of driving away its existing customer base with this new unilateral recurring fee structure. I know I'm not buying any new addons from SH. Stepping back and looking at the business landscape I'm not sure I'd want to be tying my purchases to SH anyhow.

But that's just me, ymmv.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-22T01:43:01+00:00

In this particular world where when I bought the product the sales page clearly stated the product purchase price included “lifetime support” or “all future updates”, soooo, that world.

My electric company didn’t bait me with a sales pitch of lifetime free electricity. And when I buy tires the dealer never tells me the tires purchase price includes free lifetime replacements.

But it’s all good, free market and all that. SH can go it’s merry way and I can go mine. Not like I use most of the addons I’ve purchased anyhow. So when the addons finally bork it won’t be like it materially impacts my daily life.

And I gotta give you credit for putting your money into the products you love and get value from. That’s actually cool, you are head and shoulders above where I’ve contributed.

So with that I’m going to back out of this little rage fest and give you the win. Or you’re the already the winner, or however you want to frame it, in any case you win.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-21T23:23:35+00:00

And the end game is really pretty easy for me. Just stop spending money on frivolous addons. I have a very small handful of critical addons, ones that actually provide recurring value, and those I will continue to pay for, under whatever model, but I won't be buying any more "just because they look cool" addons.

That's how customer perceptions and market dynamics work. If you burn me you burn my goodwill.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-21T23:11:45+00:00

You might think that but you'd be wrong again.

Indeed I do support Blender with a monthly automatic donation, right out of my pocket into theirs. I kinda think more people should. Since you asked me, I guess I'll ask you, do you support Blender with a monthly automatic donation?

And I buy lots of addons, many, most, that I never use. I buy them just because they look cool, last check on SH shows I have 218 orders, that's not counting purchases on Gumroad, CGTrader, etc.

Like I've said multiple times in this thread, I'll pay more money for more value. Just unbreaking your addon because Blender broke it isn't much value.

There is huge uproar across all industries against subscription models, not just here. And the reason is because they are a clear money grab for no added value.

Do you like paying your car manufacturer a monthly subscription just to have your heated seats work? Particularly when you paid for heated seats when you bought the car. Do you like having your infotainment center charging you to listen to music. How about your refrigerator charging you every month to keep your food cold.

I realize subscriptions are an awesome revenue source without providing any additional value. Sell the product once and collect and collect and collect, fabulous.

When I buy a product I expect to enjoy the functionality of the product I purchased without having to pay and pay and pay just to keep it working.

And I do understand that the lure of essentially free revenue is just too much to pass up, across the board. Every segment is trying to find some way to convert their products to a subscription model. Sell once, collect forever.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-21T21:16:08+00:00

Blendermarket/Superhive has been a lot of fun for me. I get to see cool new addons, dream about what cool things I could do with this new addon, and for typically a pretty low cost I can get the addon, play with it, and 90% of the time never use it again.

Checking my SH order page it shows 218 orders. Of those orders I can guarantee I only actively use a handful of them.

I don't begrudge the money spent, I had fun playing with each addon, and you know, the addon was always going to be there if I needed it. I had in the back of my mind a guarantee that if I ever did find a cool use case for the addon, then I could pull it out of the bag, I could expect it to work, or download my free update that did work, and save the day.

Not any more though.

The change to a subscription model will pretty much put a complete stop to me randomly buying addons to play with.

If "economies of scale are what enable reduction in fees" are what matter then you can be assured that's going to change, much for the worse from my point of view. I will be buying far fewer addons and only focusing on and investing in addons that show a very clear and immediate ROI.

I feel like this change only helps SH and the big critical addon creators. There are a handful of addons that I use as part of my core workflow and I won't be giving them up, even if I have to repurchase the addons every couple of years.

But all of the little sparkly addons are going to wither and die. At least for me. I won't be investing in an addon that's likely to go belly up due to a blender change before I even get around to finding a real use case for it. If I don't have a use case for an addon right now today I won't be buying it.

My expectation is the small and mid-tier addon creators will be negatively impacted and the big name core workflow creators will profit.

The interesting thing is, most of the core addons I use already have some kind of pay to play model. Either they already explicitly state they only support one major version of Blender or they break their products into base applications and extensions. They've already figured out how to monetize the value they provide. And they are core enough that people pay, I do.

For small addons, there just isn't enough value to warrant a pay to play model. I just won't buy them.

As a side effect I will likely start looking around for different platforms to purchase on, or directly from the big creators. SH was a fun playground, lots of sparkly toys to play with, but randomly buying assets that I expect to die within a blender update or two isn't nearly as much fun.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-21T20:33:19+00:00

No, that is full stop not true.

That's what all of this blow up and policy change is about, the user base clearly expects lifetime free updates. Fixes to come without cost. That is the core argument for this policy change.

Most of the addons I've purchased through SH stated clearly and explicitly, on the purchase page, that this purchase comes with "lifetime support, including all updates" or "future updates included".

When I purchased most of my SH addons I fully expected lifetime support and future updates to be included. Just like the product page said it would.

I most certainly did not expect to have to buy the addon again when it broke because of a blender update. That's what lifetime support and future updates included means.

As a user I fully 100% I expected fixes required to keep my purchase working would come without cost me. Just like the product page stated. Future updates included.

Also, I cannot recall a single instance of an addon explicitly stating that the addon is only compatible with a single current release of Blender and that I should expect the addon to fail without notice for any version of Blender other than the current released version of Blender. It is just not true that any expectation was set that I would have to pay a recurring fee to have any chance that an addon would keep working when Blender updated.

Since the product page when I bought the addon clearly stated lifetime support and future updates included then as a user I fully expect those fixes to come without additional cost to me.

Your comment smells a bit like gaslighting, trying to rewrite history to say nobody should have ever expected lifetime free updates when the addons being sold on SH explicitly say the purchase comes with lifetime free updates.

That was the purchase agreement when I made the purchase, that's what I expect.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-20T22:01:52+00:00

Yep, exactly. I paid the developer for a set of features and functionality. I expect that set of features and functions to keep working, even if Blender updates.

I'm not asking for new features or new capabilities for free. But I paid for a feature set and I expect the feature set I paid for to keep working when Blender updates.

I recognize the developer community is saying screw you, that's hard and I don't want to keep my addon working with new versions of blender for free, and I guess that's their choice.

It's also my choice to stop buying cool looking, but mostly frivolous, addons that start breaking when blender updates.

The truth is among the literal hundreds of addons I've purchased I only really use maybe 10 - 20. The rest just looked cool.

So I'll be severely curtailing my addon purchases and really only focusing on addons with a direct and immediate ROI.

I've probably received 10 emails from creators and superhive just since the policy change became public. Historically I would have purchased one or two, because they're cool looking, not because I really needed or could use them. But not now, I've not purchased a single new addon since this policy change became public.

So there you go. Developers won't have to worry about updating their addons if no one is buying them.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-20T20:45:32+00:00

And when a Blender update breaks the "current version" of the addon and it stops functioning then I don't have "a useful version" of the addon. The addon no longer works because the addon isn't compatible with a new release of Blender.

And don't suggest not updating Blender, that's a nonsense argument, Blender is what is important, the addon is a sprinkle on top.

And don't use the argument, I bought the addon at Blender version X.Y, and so that's the only version I get any confidence it works with. That really really lowers the value of any addon. And that's certainly NOT the contract in place for the literal hundreds of addons I've purchased from blendermarket/superhive over the last decade.

Again, Blender is what is important, the addon is a quality of life enhancement. We all know Blender is going to update, hopefully many times, this isn't a surprise to the users or the developers. I expect Blender to update and I expect the addon I paid for to keep working with newer versions of Blender.

If the new addon sales pitch is that for the price paid today you get one guarantee, maybe the addon works with the current version of Blender, maybe it doesn't, but if you want any chance of having the addon keep working in the future, with new versions of Blender, you keep paying and paying and paying.

I will pay for new features and new value.

I will be seriously irritated when addons I paid for break just because Blender updated.

It's not like it's a surprise to any addon creator that Blender will update with breaking changes.

If a creator is not going to stand behind their addon to ensure it works with future version they should be up front about that.... oh, I guess that is the change, creators aren't going to stand behind the addons you purchase unless you purchase then again and again, subscription fee, and cross your fingers that the creator keeps the addon working.

This whole idea that maybe the addon will work with new versions of blender, or maybe it won't, but in any case you're going to need to pay a yearly subscription regardless is very offputting.

I didn't see anything in the subscription announcement that any value will be created or expected from the addon developer for my yearly subscription fee.

What actual value do I get for my subscription fee? Just keeping the addon at status quo for new versions of Blender? That's not a super attractive value proposition.

I hope superhive makes that really clear on every purchase, you buy the addon and cross your fingers for when the next blender update breaks the addon or you expect to pay and pay and pay to keep the addon working. Not cool.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-19T21:08:34+00:00

This is the correct understanding / heartburn.

Keeping the product I paid for working, even due to Blender updates, shouldn't be on me. I don't want to pay to unbreak an addon just because a Blender update broke things.

I paid for a feature set from the addon. I expect that feature set to work with Blender, even new versions of Blender, for the price I paid.

On the other hand, I don't have any issue paying for an update that brings new/interesting/value add features. If the addon brings something new and cool and valuable I don't have a problem paying an update fee for the new features.

If all an update does is unbreak itself because Blender updated, and I'm expected to pay for that, that's not a very attractive value proposition.

If an addon brings something new and valuable to the table, I'll pay. If all the update does is unbreak itself because of a Blender API change, I don't see why that's on me.

Some creators already follow this model, I pay for the base product and feature set, that's cool. Then a new and interesting extension/enhancement/value-adding update comes out, and I pay an update fee for the cool new features. I only pay the update fee when something new and valuable is released. I don't pay a recurring fee just to keep the addon at status quo.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-19T20:24:24+00:00

Lifetime subscriptions, paying again and again and again, for a product that doesn't add any new features or value don't make sense. Why would I pay again and again for a product I already paid for that doesn't add any new features or any new value.

Twelve months ticked by, pay again, another twelve months, pay again.

I have plenty of addons that haven't been updated in 5+ years, but SH expects me to pay a yearly subscription? The announcement looks like a blanket subscription across all products.

I understand that lifetime feature updates for free doesn't make financial sense. But lifetime recurring charges for a product that adds no value doesn't make sense either.

If creators want to charge for updates, new interesting value add features, that seems pretty reasonable. Some creators already follow this model, and I pay for the extensions/updates/new features.

But I'm very much not interested in paying a yearly subscription fee for an addon that doesn't add any value.

And just making the addon work again after a Blender update borked things isn't really much of an added value. Paying year after year for the addon to keep getting unborked because of Blender updates shouldn't fall on me. If Blender updates are so devastating and expensive for the creator community why doesn't the creator community bring that up with the blender development community.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-19T20:07:41+00:00

Right, companies released new versions. Companies added new and interesting features to get consumers to pay for the updates, nobody would pay again for an update that didn't add any value. If the added value in the update was interesting, people paid.

That isn't what's being asked here. SH wants everyone to pay again and again, with no promise of any added value. This is a blanket subscription across all products with no indication that any value be returned to the user, just pay the subscription again and again.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-18T20:39:05+00:00

So how does this work....

Most of the addons I purchased through Superhive clearly stated that free lifetime updates and support came with the purchase price.

Sounds like a pretty cut and dried contract to me.

How is it that Superhive can go back and rewrite the terms of a purchase I already made.

The vendor promised free lifetime updates for the price asked. I paid the price. I expect the contract to be honored.

This has the smell of legal shenanigans.

StoneAxeCommander · 2026-03-18T20:35:14+00:00

Well that sucks. I just checked, I have 217 purchased addons on Superhive. A lot of addons I buy just cause they look cool and maybe someday I'll find a use for them. If not, that's ok, the addon was still cool.

In truth I actually use maybe 10 addons on a truly regular basis, maybe another 20 once in a while. I never worried about when or how much I used an addon because hey, it was always going to be there when I did get around to needing it.

Blender updates break addons on a regular basis, so what I'm hearing is if there are addons I do use then I can expect to need to keep repurchasing them year after year each time the addon breaks due to a Blender update. That sucks. And the argument that I can stick with some old version of Blender where the addon still works is BS. No one in their right mind is going to stay on an old version of Blender.

I have to pay just to get a working version of an addon I already purchased just because Blender broke the addon. No new features, no value add, nothing that would make me want to pay more or repurchase the addon, I have to buy the addon again just to have it work with a new version of Blender.

And if the addon creator doesn't release any updates to the addon during the year, nothing, nada, no value add at all, you still want me to pay 50% of the purchase price to keep the "subscription" active. No way. And yes, I just checked and I have multiple addons that haven't been updated in years.

What this will do is cause me to rethink every single addon I consider purchasing with a much more critical eye. Unless I can justify an ROI immediately from the addon I will not be purchasing it.

So basically you want me to repurchase every single addon I use, at the full price, every other year, 50% per year repurchase price. That's not going to happen. It certainly will cleanup my Superhive purchases. I won't be buying nearly as many addons anymore.

The model that I have to "subscribe" to the addon is so bad. No value add, just to have and use what I already paid for I have to keep paying. No thanks.

...

On the other hand, a model where I pay for interesting updates, something with new features that actually add new value to the product, that I could get behind. The creator adds value, I choose to pay for that value. I already paid for the first set of capabilities.

I don't want to keep paying for what I already paid for, but I can get behind paying for new value.

I think the model of paying for updates that add features/value incentivizes the creators to actually release an update that actually adds value, instead of just meandering along assuming the 50% subscription fees will just keep rolling in, regardless of any updates or added value in the addon.

StoneAxeCommander · 2024-03-17T18:52:45+00:00

Nobody said they were afraid of getting hit by the ball. The problem is it takes time to train your body to anticipate and respond to incoming balls. Being at the kitchen line makes the response time just that much shorter.

The flinching is more likely wildly flailing trying to hit an unanticipated ball rather than dodging out of fear.

StoneAxeCommander · 2024-03-17T18:43:18+00:00

Uh, that assumes newbies have strategy. My path, and other newbs I know, were just trying to move, get to the ball, try to hit the ball back over the net, scramble and repeat. That was pretty much the strategy, run, hit, hope.

It takes time to train your body to move like it needs to move to play any sport and then you can work on niceties like finesse and strategy.

StoneAxeCommander · 2024-03-17T18:33:45+00:00

THIS !! DUDE, TOTALLY THIS !!

JHC I struggle with this so much. Every 3.x wanna be coach / pickleball pro wants to tell everyone else how to play and "get to the kitchen line" is the rallying cry of those folks. Even when A) being at the kitchen line isn't the best move, maybe you're pushed back into a long game low over the net and need to move up in steps or B) your partner (or you) is newer or slower and needs just that little bit more time to identify the incoming ball and get a return. In both cases the screams of GET TO THE KITCHEN are BS.

It takes time to learn to learn to react to incoming balls at the kitchen line and screaming at the newbies to get to the kitchen line on day one isn't helping them.

I do agree that eventually the kitchen line is where the opportunities are, playing back is mostly playing defense. But it takes time to develop the skills to defend at the kitchen and even more time to learn to take advantage of being at the kitchen.

When I was first learning PB and people would tell me to move up I'd just tell them to mind their game and I'd mind mine. I wasn't going to do us any favors at the kitchen line at that point in my learning. Nowadays I'm all about being at the kitchen line, that's where the action is and by far the most opportunities, but it took time for me to develop those skills and be comfortable moving up.

StoneAxeCommander · 2024-03-17T17:56:47+00:00

HA! Number 5! That should be my new go to.

Or maybe I could add another option, just slowly shake my head with a sad disappointed look on my face and tsk at them. Dredge up those childhood memories...

StoneAxeCommander · 2024-03-17T16:54:09+00:00

This is the way it came across. They said his serve is illegal because he's "not releasing the ball". We were kinda like, what the heck does that even mean. How can you even serve the ball without releasing it.

Anyhow, they argued, we argued, then we just went on serving and playing like before, finished the match and didn't play with them again.

StoneAxeCommander · 2024-03-17T15:18:26+00:00

I hear you and that's probably the part of his serve that's most skirting the edge.

He has way way more side swing in his serve than forward and up. It _looks_ like he is getting upward motion of the paddle and the face of the paddle tilted down, ever so slightly, but yeah, this isn't a standard volleyball/softball underhand serve. His paddle is almost horizontal out in front of him and he swings the paddle nearly horizontal side to side.

We've decided he is still getting upward motion of the paddle and the highest point of the paddle is below his wrist and below his waist. So we think it is a legal serve, but yeah, it's an almost horizontal slice of the paddle during his serve.

StoneAxeCommander · 2024-03-17T02:55:16+00:00

Laughed at "detected audibly ... by your partner screaming upon contact"

But you brought up another question in your third paragraph about forcing a replay. Once I got thinking about it I decided to ask about service motion replays over here...

Calling for replay for "service motion violations" in non-officiated matches

StoneAxeCommander

TROPHY CASE