How do you secure your game engine and IP?

1 Choose a suitable license

One of the first steps to secure your game engine and IP is to choose a suitable license that defines the terms and conditions of how your software and content can be used, distributed, or modified by others. There are different types of licenses, such as proprietary, open source, or hybrid, that offer different levels of protection and flexibility for your game engine and IP. You should carefully consider the pros and cons of each license, and consult a legal expert if needed, to ensure that your license matches your goals and expectations, and that you comply with any relevant laws and regulations.

2 Encrypt your code and assets

Another way to secure your game engine and IP is to encrypt your code and assets, which means converting them into a format that is unreadable by humans or machines without a key. Encryption can help you prevent hackers or pirates from reverse engineering, tampering, or copying your game engine and IP, or accessing sensitive information such as passwords or keys. There are various tools and methods you can use to encrypt your code and assets, such as obfuscation, compression, encryption algorithms, or digital rights management (DRM). However, you should also be aware of the trade-offs and challenges of encryption, such as performance, compatibility, or user experience issues.

3 Implement security features

A third way to secure your game engine and IP is to implement security features that can detect, prevent, or respond to potential attacks or breaches on your game engine and IP. For example, you can use anti-cheat systems, authentication systems, or firewalls to monitor and block any unauthorized or malicious activities on your game engine or IP, such as cheating, hacking, or piracy. You can also use backup systems, recovery systems, or logging systems to restore or recover your game engine or IP in case of damage or loss, or to track and trace any incidents or errors.

4 Update and patch your game engine and IP

A fourth way to secure your game engine and IP is to update and patch your game engine and IP regularly, which means fixing any bugs, errors, or vulnerabilities that may compromise your game engine or IP's functionality, security, or quality. Updating and patching your game engine and IP can help you improve your game engine or IP's performance, compatibility, or user experience, as well as prevent hackers or pirates from exploiting any known or unknown flaws or gaps in your game engine or IP. You should also test and verify your updates and patches before releasing them, and inform and educate your users about the benefits and risks of updating and patching your game engine or IP.

5 Educate and engage your users

A fifth way to secure your game engine and IP is to educate and engage your users, which means informing and involving your users in the protection and promotion of your game engine and IP. You can educate your users about the value and importance of your game engine and IP, and the consequences and risks of violating your license or compromising your security. You can also engage your users by providing them with incentives, rewards, or feedback for supporting your game engine and IP, such as discounts, bonuses, or recognition. By educating and engaging your users, you can build trust, loyalty, and advocacy among your users, and reduce the chances of them turning to hackers or pirates.

6 Compare and learn from other game engines and IP

A sixth way to secure your game engine and IP is to compare and learn from other game engines and IP, which means analyzing and evaluating how other game developers protect and enhance their game engines and IP. You can compare and learn from other game engines and IP by researching and reviewing their licenses, encryption methods, security features, updates and patches, and user education and engagement strategies. You can also benchmark and measure your game engine and IP's performance, security, and quality against other game engines and IP, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. By comparing and learning from other game engines and IP, you can gain insights, ideas, and inspiration for improving and securing your game engine and IP.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?