AppOnboard acquires Buildbox

By June 13, 2019Buildbox
AppOnboard Buildbox

The Maker Generation

Back when started Buildbox in 2014, we had a very simple vision:  To empower anyone to create video games. Our goal then, as it is today, was to help push forward the maker generation.  To help people create works of art that were previously impossible without being a programmer. We see #nocode as the future of development, and passionately have worked on this vision for the past 5 years.

Rarely, if ever, have I come across another company who has followed a similar vision, much less the exact same vision we’ve had from the start.  This changed in early 2019 when I first met Jon Zweig, CEO of AppOnboard.

Meeting AppOnboard

Jon and I started talking and were both completely shocked to find we were not only on the same page, but fully charged forward on the exact same mission.  AppOnboard has focused on creating app creation software that was completely different, yet instantly complimentary, to Buildbox.

They’ve built an incredible company with over 100 employees across the globe, raised $30 million in funding, and we have discussed in detail the amazing ways they can help support and grow Buildbox well past what we’ve accomplished as a small bootstrapped startup.

The Future of #NoCode

I’m extremely excited to announce the next chapter for Buildbox, and explain how we’re going to vastly expand our product, ability, and community going forward, but before I do that I believe it’s most important to discuss what is not changing.

With this acquisition, every single employee is staying with Buildbox, including myself and Nik.  Buildbox will run independently — as it always has — while being able to grow much more quickly, and tap into the great resources that AppOnboard provides.  Nik and I will still be focused 100% on vision and additions to complete line of our products. We will not be making any changes in product, besides improvements and additions we already have planned.

What we will have access too, that we did not before, is resources to help us hire more developers, content creators and more for Buildbox.  You’ll see our development times vastly improve, and content creation for Buildbox speed up drastically.

AppOnboard is amazingly dedicated to not changing our vision, but helping us see it through to its largest potential.

What Comes Next?

The first most noticeable change you’ll see is a free version of Buildbox.  This will be coming soon, and it’s the first time we’ve been able to viably do this as a company.  Our goal is to have people learn on this free version and vastly expand the community.

With AppOnboard’s help, you will find much better Android, ad network, and export support. You’ll also see many nodes and smart assets being created for Buildbox, a new asset store, and more, coming this year.

This is just the beginning.  We’re also roadmapping expansions with the Master Collection software, putting a core focus on making Buildbox 3.0 easier to use, and much more.

Thanks so much for the community who has helped turn Buildbox into the leading #nocode game development platform.  We’re excited for the future, and can promise you this is only the beginning.

Sincerely,

Trey Smith
Buildbox

Trey Smith

About Trey Smith

Trey Smith is founder at Buildbox.com and also owns a mobile game company with more than 55,000,000 downloads. 8 Games from his company have broken the Top 30 of the App Store including The Line Zen, Phases, Jump Pack and Monster Magic. Follow for updates on Facebook or Twitter.

39 Comments

  • […] both our software and company have evolved — especially over the past year. We were acquired by AppOnboard, released a free version of Buildbox, and have expanded our software from just 2D to include 3D […]

  • Avatar run 3 says:

    This is a great thing, I think everyone feels this information is very valuable, thank you

  • Avatar James says:

    Did you guys just mock us by saying you will release the free version? This is bad.

  • Avatar Ariel says:

    They’ve built an incredible company!
    clicker heroes

  • Avatar SARATH says:

    Waitig for the FREE version…God Bless You all….

  • Avatar Catch Fehst says:

    I am really excited to use AppOnBoard and BuildBox for my next game, Miner Escape. The nocode solution and play first demo technology will give developers a competitive advantage.

  • please make FREE VERSION as unity… With free version, users may be able to edit, export as they want… Only SPLASHSCREEN is enough for your company…

  • Avatar James says:

    BB support is non existent – Not replying to any mails since last week. What is up?????
    When will the free version be available??

  • Avatar 3dProArtist says:

    Still the pricing are way high then comparing to the market.
    you are approach is good toward making drag and drop games but the price point doesn’t match with other competitor. I and people like me are interested in the engine but the price rang is way higher then other competitor so I went to GODOT because its more flexible.

    I think you guys should really reconsider your price range because not everyone wants to pay that much because other engines are available in the market which is way cheaper then buildbox. Thats my sentiment.

  • Avatar manan says:

    May I make a suggestion, Trey. Give us a free version with all the features (I mean – everything) without the ability to export. That way, we can all experience the complete power of Buildbox in its entirety. If people are serious about gaming and are willing to fork out subscriptions for iTunes and play store, they can buy the exportable version of the software. I would love to be able to play with the extended capabilities and build something really cool. If I’ve put in a lot of effort into building it – I’ll certainly pay to export it. 2 cents.

  • Avatar ali says:

    please make FREE VERSION as unity… With free version, users may be able to edit, export as they want… Only SPLASHSCREEN is enough for your company… Unity makes so… We wait from you this too… please…

  • Avatar B. Victor Cha says:

    Wow, it sounds great. I hope to see more of good content and outstanding no-code features soon. It’s a good thing you have decided to offer BB free of charge.

  • congrats,
    really good news

    could have a free version where you expand with more exporters and more smart assets from the asset store. It could be an opportunity too for third party devs who want to sell components (with a cut of course kept by the store) and expand the functionality. May need to add blackbox or precompiled (webassembly?) assets and/or compbined with encryption. Could provie asset authors with option to make available asset code (whitebox) with more cost and license that forbids repackaging/reselling that asset code

    free version would be nice for educators too, both for producting teaching material that is appealing and for having students work on creative projects

  • Avatar Vis Naidu says:

    Congratulations Trey and the rest of the Buildbox team. All the best in the future with AppOnBoard.

  • Avatar DJ says:

    When will the free version be available?

    Thanks

  • Avatar Jun Sunwoo says:

    Congratulations! ^
    I wish you continued development.

    • Avatar Philip Ritmeester says:

      Great news.

      Is there anything known on when this free version comes, since Buildbox has no option to pay with your PayPal Balance and I have send many emails without luck I am happy I can at least try the software now.

      I had putten away 2.5k dollars for the master collection in PayPal since I have no credit card which I couldn’t spend.

      I am only not sure of this comes quick or that we at least have to wait a year like we already do for AppOnBoards windows version with still no sign of progress.

      I would love to hear from one of the devs on both companies what we are looking at.

      Kind Regards,

      Philip Ritmeester

  • […] Details from the BuildBox blog announcement: […]

  • […] Details from the BuildBox blog announcement: […]

  • Avatar Chris Fourie says:

    Ok, I have never been more confused than I am now and I would love a reply from someone at the TOP.
    So now what does this mean for all of us????
    Firstly what happens to people that already bought Buildbox, and what about people that want to buy Buildbox now.
    AppOnBoard is only for Mac users with a Windows version coming soon.

    Here is my issue.
    For months I have been preparing and putting money aside to get Builbox with the Master Collection of assets that were available with the monthly
    subscription, to now find out that there are no assets available with the new yearly plan. That was the first blow. Now second blow you leave us in the dark as to what this whole AppOnBoard merger means for the future of Boxers. All I wanted to do was make 2D platformers and I have so many ideas and finally have the money together, but now I do not know what to do next. HELP PLEASE. I want to make 2D platformer games and I need buildbox and the master collection.

    THANKS

    • Avatar RAXBIT says:

      I think the FREE version is a LITE version of BuildBox, which means limited functions. User still need to subscribe to get full features. More on marketing strategy =)

    • Avatar Tiana Crump says:

      Hi Chris, all Buildbox subscriptions are going to be honored and the Buildbox and Master Collection 2.0 software will be receiving updates and supported far into the future. If you wish to discuss your specific situation you can reach out to us directly via discord/forum DM, or support email and CC sean@buildbox.com.

  • Avatar Francis Charland says:

    ApponBoard seems to have a software a bit like Buildbox! Will they drop one of it? It seems a good news but at the same time what will happen with Buildbox short term? Should we wait before getting it? Will ApponBoard merge both softwares? Thing is I don’t want to invest time in a piece of software that will go under major changes… Did it with UDK before they went with UE4 and it’s quite a pain to start over from scratch.

    • Avatar Tiana Crump says:

      Buildbox will continue to be supported long term and is going to have a lot more resources to be improved on vastly and quicker than ever before.

  • Avatar ANONYMOUS says:

    This is great! Looking forward to the free version!

  • That is an amazing news.

    What I hope is to see a wider range of types of games or interactive experiences that will be possible to develop with BuildBox.

    I am happy that RPGs and Platformers are there, but it is still really focused on casual games.

    Keep up the good work.

    • Avatar Brynt christian rodriguez says:

      Wow, this is really a great news, more power to the whole team. Can’t wait for everything to materialize. God bless to everybody

  • Avatar Isak Christenson says:

    This sounds great! Maybe an linux version could be in the roadmap to=)?

  • Avatar Shanto Chakma says:

    Are you serious?
    I love doing some game creating stuff
    But im totally bad at coding, though i have been trying
    But now, feels like an opportunity is ahead of me
    Thanks Buildbox #nocode gdp

  • Avatar Hanaan says:

    Great news! Well done and congrats Trey!

  • Avatar Sexture Ragland says:

    That’s what i’m talking about. Good work fellas!!!!!!

  • Congrats to you, your family and all the buildbox team. It takes years to build something great and what a great achievement. What a great time for celebration :)

  • Avatar Russell Patterson says:

    Will my license change or still be valid?

  • Avatar James Woods says:

    Congrats to you and the whole Team Trey!