Indeed, in the constantly changing world of game development, one of the biggest dreams has always been cross-platform compatibility. Every game developer dreams of having a game that can be played across all platforms, including mobiles, gaming consoles, laptops, and PCs.

 Java has been key in this search for years, providing its “write once, run anywhere” slogan because porting a game is time-consuming and costly. However, the recent changes in Java licensing have impacted the gaming industry significantly and have forced game developers to look for new opportunities.

Historical Context: Java’s Role in Cross-Platform Game Development

Java’s history in the gaming arena started in the late 1990s as a possible fix to the industry’s problems. Software engineers working on games were challenged because they had to design a game for each platform, which was time-consuming and costly. Java’s platform independence appeared to be the way out of the problem.

The language soon took off, especially in the mobile gaming space. When smartphones rose in the early 2000s, Java was the most preferred platform for developing mobile games. One reason developers liked it was that it can be run on any device, no matter what kind of hardware it uses. In 2023, 30 percent of developers still preferred Java, showing its relevance to this day.

1. Java was used in mobile gaming and in many other aspects as well. Most of the famous PC games, including the phenomenon Minecraft, were developed using Java. The language had a healthy community, a plethora of libraries, and large support from developers, which made it popular among them.
2. However, Java had its fair share of problems asserting its dominance in the industry. Many Java-based games were known to have performance problems, especially when run on low-end devices. Some analysts claimed that although Java has been designed to support the cross-platform feature, it has been done at the expense of efficiency.

However, all these shortcomings did not hinder Java from being a major player in game development, particularly for indie developers and small development houses. Due to its simplicity and compatibility with different operating systems, Java was a viable solution for those who could not afford to develop specifically for each platform.

Recent Licensing Changes by Oracle

The landscape began to shift dramatically in 2010 when Oracle acquired Java by purchasing Sun Microsystems and announced significant changes to its licensing model. These changes primarily affected the commercial use of Java Standard Edition (Java SE).

Under the new model, Oracle introduced a subscription-based pricing structure for Java SE. Organizations using Java SE 8 or later in production environments were now required to purchase commercial licenses. This marked a departure from the previous model, where long-term support (LTS) versions of Java were freely available for commercial use.

This new licensing model added extra costs, especially to small studios, which are usually established with limited capital. Further, the fast pace of release also created problems in keeping development environments stable and compatibility issues with different versions of Java.

How These Changes Affect Game Developers

The consequences of Oracle’s licensing changes have affected game developers, especially those who work on games developed for multiple platforms. The first effect was, of course, economical. Independent studios and smaller developers that had used Java’s free availability were now faced with the possibility of having to pay a license.

The changes that occurred required a shift in large companies’ development strategies. Given the new costs and possible legal issues arising from Oracle’s new licensing policy, some had to evaluate whether it was worthwhile to continue using Java.

The Impact on Cross-Platform Development

Java’s “write once, run anywhere” philosophy has been a cornerstone for many cross-platform projects. With the new licensing model, developers had to consider whether Java remained viable for creating games that could run on multiple platforms without incurring prohibitive costs.

Porting Process

Developers porting games to different platforms found themselves navigating a more complex landscape. Questions arose about whether ported games using Java would be subject to licensing fees on each platform, potentially multiplying costs.

Cross-Platform Compatibility and Game Distribution

With more frequent Java updates, developers had to ensure their games remained compatible with different Java versions and platforms.

The licensing changes also had implications for game distribution. Developers had to consider whether distributing Java runtime environments with their games would incur additional licensing costs. This concern was particularly acute for developers targeting platforms where Java wasn’t pre-installed.

Case Studies of Game Companies Adapting to New Licensing Models

The gaming industry has had different reactions to Oracle’s changes in its licensing policies. Some firms have decided to bear the costs and stick with Java, while others have looked for other technologies.

1. Mojang Studios, the company behind Minecraft, can be used as an example of such an approach. Minecraft, one of the most successful video games in history, was developed with Java. After the buyout of Mojang in 2014, Microsoft maintained the Java edition of Minecraft while also working on the Bedrock edition, which is based on C++.
2.  However, over the years, Mojang has not abandoned the Java Edition, which is essential for a large number of players. The company has also invested a lot of money into the Bedrock Edition, which is better optimized and allows for easier cross-play.
3.  Another example is Supercell, the mobile game developer that created games such as Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars. Although Supercell experimented with Java for some of its games, the firm has gradually moved toward using other technologies, such as C++ and Unity, in its newer games.

Other indie developers have had to make even more difficult decisions. Some have preferred to look for cheaper technologies than the ones that come with Java licensing. This has caused a shift in the tools and languages used in indie game development, hence the variety of them.

Some companies have used OpenJDK, an open-source Java development kit, instead of Oracle’s JDK. Although this saves a lot of money that would have been spent on licensing from Oracle, it has drawbacks, such as the possibility of different performances and security updates.

Alternative Technologies Game Developers Are Considering

The Java licensing changes have accelerated a trend that was already underway in the gaming industry: research on the other forms of development used in cross-platform development. To avoid such issues, developers are now opting for tools and languages that have similar characteristics to Java but do not have such restrictions.

Unity

This has made Unity one of the most preferred platforms by many game developers. This game engine is well equipped with cross-platform compatibility, so developers can develop games that can be run on different platforms with slight modifications. One of the main reasons why Unity has garnered a lot of support from indie developers and small studios is its asset store and easy-to-use interface.

Unreal Engine

Another contender is Unreal Engine, which has been receiving growing attention from developers working on high-quality, performance-oriented games. Unreal Engine has long been known as being used by AAA game developers, but it has been gradually opening up to indie teams as well.

C++

For developers who like to have more control over the technology stack, C++ remains a good choice. Compared to Java, C++ is not as portable as Java, which is “write once, run anywhere,” but it provides very good performance and is used on most platforms.

Python

Python has also been used widely, especially by developers of games that do not require much graphics. It is also easy to use and has large libraries, which makes it ideal for quick prototyping and application development.

Web Technologies

HTML5, JavaScript, and WebGL are web technologies that have given developers a new dimension in game development across multiple platforms. These technologies enable games to be run within a browser, which can be accessed by many people on various devices.

Other up-and-coming languages, such as Rust and Go, are also being used in game development. They are not yet very popular, but their performance features and modern language features make them quite appealing to developers who are looking beyond Java.

The Future of Cross-Platform Game Development

The following trends will probably define cross-platform game development as we look into the future. Services like cloud gaming, which involve running games on a server and streaming them to different devices, may also minimize the need for platform-specific game development. This could change the emphasis from developing games that can be played directly on several platforms to optimizing games for streaming.

 One emerging technology worth watching is WebAssembly, also known as Wasm. It enables complex applications such as games to be run in web browsers with almost native speed. As Wasm becomes more established, it may provide a new way to develop games that are genuinely cross-platform and capable of running complex games in a web browser on different devices.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are also associated with future trends in game development. These technologies might help optimize games for different platforms, reducing the work required to develop games for multiple platforms.

It is also expected that game engines such as Unity and Unreal will continuously advance, making cross-platform development even easier. Some of these tools may become increasingly transparent in the near future, allowing game developers to deploy games across various platforms with little platform-specific code.

Open source endeavors may also define the future of cross-platform development. This could be achieved through Open JDK for Java or open-source game engines, which could offer developers powerful tools that are not weighed down by the legalities of licensing.

The mobile gaming market, which has been one of the key motivating factors for cross-platform development, is expected to have a further impact. However, as mobile devices become more powerful, the difference between mobile and traditional gaming platforms may be reduced, thus helping to reduce the complexities of cross-platform development.

Conclusion

The recent changes in Java licensing have undoubtedly created a stir in cross-platform game development. What was quite easy for many developers in the past has now become a decision that a developer has to make based on cost, performance, and sustainability.

Developers are now adopting a larger number of technologies, each with its own merits and demerits. The above diversification may eventually contribute to the development of more effective and adaptive cross-platform development models.

The dream of developing once for multiple platforms—the idea of making a game and running it on any device—is still a dream. Nevertheless, the industry is gradually heading towards this ideal due to technological developments and the ever-present need for games that can connect to players regardless of their location.