All Archicad Perpetual Licenses Terminated at the end of 2026

[mthd]

After the end of 2026 we are all required to proceed with a subscription only for Archicad. We will probably be left with last perpetual upgrade version that we have acquired while our SSA/FW contracts are still active ?

There has been an official announcement that has been sugar coated as I see it and put forth for discussions. Maybe hoping to somehow soften the blow for up and coming mandatory subscriptions after 2026 whether we approve of it or not.

Here is a link if you haven’t already read it from the main community page.

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Graphisoft-Insights/Important-update-Next-phase-of-subscription-...

I personally do not approve of this move and feel like I am being coerced to accept it by a process of gradual announcements. I am not interested in changing to other CAD packages but if Graphisoft comes up with more significant improvements after 2026 we are now required to take out a subscription.

How do others feel about this up and coming change that we have no control over ?

[torben_wadlinger]

Uh, new name:  ArchiTrump.

[Sharpeyespanda]

...thx, I guess 😁...

[Sharpeyespanda]

Agreed. And that's not just "some" unimportant "rules"... throdening on everyone's private property. 

[Barry Kelly]

I don't really have an issue with the fact that you can no longer buy a perpetual license, although I don't like it.

That is a marketing decision Graphisoft has made.

My issue is, that for those of us that have made the outlay to purchase the software, now no longer have a choice to upgrade.

For those of us that bought many years ago, you could argue that we have had our moneys worth out of the investment, even while paying to upgrade every year.

But, if I had bought a perpetual license just before this change kicked in, I would be mightily upset that I could no longer upgrade my investment.

I see no reason why Graphisoft could not keep its current perpetual license holders (investors) happy by allowing them to pay an annual fee still, and continually upgrade their license.

Maybe if you default on that annual upgrade, then your license becomes fixed and you need to switch to the subscription only method if you want to use newer versions in the future?

Please allow those of us that invested a lot of money in purchasing the software, and continually upgrading it for many years, be able to continue to upgrade our perpetual licenses.

Graphisoft will still be getting and annual payment from us.

Barry.

[mthd]

I totally agree with you @Barry Kelly and that is not too much to ask from Graphisoft to be fair to all those who have purchased perpetual licenses of Archicad. No matter how late they have made the purchases.

Graphisoft can certainly reconsider its policy towards perpetual license holders. If they do they become even bigger winners by servicing customers with both options for different business models. That was a good move under the previous administration and should have been kept in place. 

There is no better policy than keeping your customers happy becuase it leads to more customers and greater satisfaction for everyone involved.

The ship has sailed true but when captain heads for dangerous waters it is time to change course and listen to all the ships pilots. (Including figurative stakeholders or the owners of perpetual licenses)

[Sharpeyespanda]

That is a very valid point. Graphisoft sold upgradeable perpetual license and with that made a promise.   

[jl_lt]

If a company has shareholders this miopic and gullible (in thinking they could compete with revit at their strenghts while neglecting your own strenghts) they actually have more problems than us.  Hope they get their act together.

[jl_lt]

otherwise, those ectoparasites are going to run GS to the ground, take their money out and invest in Revit.

[mthd]

Any perpetual license converted to a subscription should stay at the current version when the buyer finishes paying his subscription. Not a fall back to an earlier version of the software as is the case now. I would think that would only be fair to all of us who have perpetual licenses.

Edited: That is certainly not going to happen though when you read the facts.

”11. What are the options for customers converting in 2025 when their conversion period is over?

For customers converting in 2025, converted subscriptions will be renewed at a price adjusted with a similar magnitude price increase % as guaranteed until 2028 but without an exact % guarantee in the future. Customers may choose to fall back onto the perpetual path with their licenses during 2025-2028. In such cases, their perpetual licenses will be upgraded to the then most up-to-date perpetual software – albeit without the SSA/Forward coverage going forward.”

My question is, what version is the most up to date perpetual software, 29 or 30 ?