GameMaker: Studio update adds compiler, shader support

YoYo Games has announced it is rolling out the latest edition of its popular GameMaker: Studio software. Version 1.2 adds two new features of particular note: the YoYo Compiler, which the company promises will allow projects to "run up to 100x faster across all native platforms supported," and cross-platform shader support which "allows developers to write shaders once and then deploy them across all platforms that support them." "Our goal with today's update and all future enhancements to GameMaker: Studio is that the imagination be the limiting factor in the game development process, not the technology," YoYo Games CTO Russell Kay said in conjunction with the announcement. Shader support and the YoYo Compiler come packed in with GameMaker Studio v 1.2, and the latter is also free to users of the GameMaker: Studio Master Collection. The Compiler is also available as a separate add-on.