How is Godot game engine influencing the gaming industry?

Abstract

The growth of indie game development has created a need for accessible and flexible game engines. While much research has focused on popular engines like Unity, the open-source Godot engine offers unique advantages that have been less explored. This study examines how Godot's features - such as its open-source MIT license, user-friendly node-based architecture, strong community support, and cross-platform capabilities - lower barriers to entry and promote innovation among independent developers and small studios.

Data was collected from user experiences and scientific literature to analyze the factors that make Godot appealing to indie developers. The findings reveal that Godot's free licensing eliminates financial constraints like fees and royalties, allowing developers to use and modify the engine without restrictions. Its intuitive interface and accessible scripting language, GDScript, simplify the development process for users of varying skill levels. The active community enhances support and collaboration, providing resources that aid in problem-solving and innovation. Additionally, Godot's lightweight design ensures efficient performance on less powerful hardware, making high-quality game development more accessible. This research addresses a gap in the literature by providing an analysis of Godot's influence on development workflows and innovation in the indie gaming sector.