HTML5 Game Licensing Explained: What a Non-Exclusive License Gets You
What a non-exclusive HTML5 game license includes, how it compares to exclusive deals, and why it is the smart way to grow a portal, app or brand catalog.
By Fabbox Studios · · 2 min read
If you run a game portal, an app or a brand campaign, licensing ready-made HTML5 games is the fastest way to add content. But "license" can mean very different things. This guide explains what you should receive, how non-exclusive licensing works, and what to check before you sign.
What an HTML5 game license gives you
A game license is permission to publish and use a game that someone else built. For HTML5 games, a good license normally includes:
- The playable build: the files you upload to your server or CDN.
- The source files: the Phaser or Construct 3 project, so your team can make changes.
- White-label rights: you can replace the developer's logo and links with your own.
- Store assets: thumbnails, banners and a description for your game page.
- Support: help with bugs and integration for a set period.
At Fabbox Studios every license includes all five, with 3 months of support.
How a non-exclusive license works
With a non-exclusive license, you get full rights to publish the game on your own platforms, and the developer can license the same game to other customers.
Why it is the best fit for most platforms:
- Price. Because each game is licensed more than once, prices stay a fraction of what it costs to build a game. Our catalog ranges from under $50 to around $480 per game.
- Speed. Games are delivered in days, not months.
- Proven quality. You can play the full demo before you buy, and many titles already have a track record with real players.
Does sharing a game hurt you? Less than you think. Your branding, game page copy, category structure and SEO decide whether players find the game on your site, not who else has it.
What about exclusive licenses?
Some studios also sell exclusive rights, where a game is taken off the market for one buyer. Those deals cost many times more per game and take longer to negotiate.
At Fabbox Studios we only sell non-exclusive licenses. It keeps every game affordable and our catalog growing. And every license is white-label, so the game carries your logo, splash screen and links instead of ours.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the source code included, or only the build?
- Can I remove the developer's branding?
- Can I run ads and in-game purchases, and do I keep the revenue?
- How many domains or apps does the license cover?
- What does support include, and for how long?
- Can I modify the game and publish the changed version?
Which approach fits you
| If you are... | Best option |
|---|---|
| A portal growing a catalog | Non-exclusive licenses |
| An app adding games for retention | Non-exclusive licenses |
| A brand running a campaign | Non-exclusive license + white-label branding |
| A network serving several countries | Non-exclusive license + localization |
Ready to look? Browse 300+ games with playable demos, read how our license works, or ask us a question.