Completely legal and a valid method of data recovery.
GMS2 compiles GML code into an intermediate bytecode. This bytecode is packaged into a data file (usually named data.win on Windows or game.ios on mobile). When the game runs, the GameMaker runner executable reads and interprets this bytecode on the fly.
A review of a decompiler cannot ignore the legal context. YoYo Games (the creators of GameMaker) explicitly prohibits reverse engineering in their EULA.
Games built with the YoYo Compiler (YYC) are significantly harder to decompile than those using the standard Virtual Machine (VM) export. gamemaker studio 2 decompiler
The strongest protection may be legal rather than technical. As one developer points out, "Decompilation is also against the GameMaker ELUA (iirc) and that's the best you can expect in terms of legal protections". Registering your copyright, including legal notices, and being prepared to take action against clear infringement can serve as a deterrent.
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Aspiring developers often use decompilers to study how experienced programmers structure their code, handle physics engines, or optimize state machines. The Dark Side: Intellectual Property and Piracy Completely legal and a valid method of data recovery
If you are a commercial developer concerned about intellectual property theft, cheating in multiplayer games, or story spoilers being leaked via datamining, you should take proactive steps to protect your game. 1. Use the YYC (YoYo Compiler) Export
If you are developing a commercial game in GameMaker Studio 2, you should assume that a VM export can be reverse-engineered within minutes of launch. To protect your intellectual property, implement the following security measures: Use the YoYo Compiler (YYC)
Solo indie developers invest years of their lives into their codebases. Respecting their hard work means using decompilers strictly for private, educational purposes, and never for cloning or monetization. How to Protect Your Own GMS2 Games When the game runs, the GameMaker runner executable
Malicious users can steal proprietary logic or art assets to re-skin and sell games.
The key takeaways are:
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