Adobe has canceled plans to discontinue its 2D animation software Animate.
On Monday, Adobe announced that it would stop allowing people to sell subscriptions to Animate on March 1, saying the software had “served its purpose.” People who already had a software license would be able to keep using Animate with technical support until March 1, 2027; businesses had until March 1, 2029. Per an email sent to customers, Adobe also said users would lose access to Animate files and project data on March 1, 2027. Animate costs $23 per month.
After receiving backlash from animators and other users, Adobe reversed its decision on Tuesday night. In an announcement posted online, the San Jose, California-headquartered company said:
We are not discontinuing or removing access to Adobe Animate. Animate will continue to be available for both current and new customers, and we will ensure you continue to have access to your content. There is no longer a deadline or date by which Animate will no longer be available.
Adobe said the software will be available for individuals and businesses and will still receive technical support and security and bug fixes, but not new features.
The company said its Monday announcement “did not meet our standards and caused a lot of confusion and angst.”
“We are committed to ensuring Animate users have access to their content regardless if the state of development changes,” Adobe said.
Mike Chambers, a community director at Adobe, affirmed via Reddit that Adobe has no plans to shut down Animate. If the company decides to discontinue the software, it “will work closely with the community to ensure they have adequate time to plan in order to minimize disruption and will take steps so that the community continues to have long-term access to their content,” he said.