Report date: Current as of 2026 – tools and legal context may evolve.
At the core of any VM-compiled GameMaker game is the file. This single file is the container for virtually everything that makes up your game: all the sprites, sounds, rooms, object definitions, shaders, and, critically, the GML bytecode. gamemaker studio 2 decompiler
GameMaker's End User License Agreement explicitly prohibits decompilation. When users ask about converting .exe files back into project files, official forum moderators respond: "That would be decompilation, which is at the very least against the terms of service and possibly illegal depending on your residence. Discussion of it is also against the terms of service". The official GameMaker community forum consistently locks threads discussing decompilation, and warnings note that "asking help to hack, mod, or decompile is not permissible because it'd be in violation of your term of use". Report date: Current as of 2026 – tools
Decompiling a YYC build is significantly harder. Because the code was turned into machine code (binary), a standard GameMaker decompiler cannot read it. If you must use VM
If you must use VM, or want extra security on top of YYC, use a GML obfuscator. These tools scramble your variable, script, and object names into random strings of characters (e.g., changing scr_player_health to _a7x9 ). The game still runs perfectly, but the decompiled code becomes unreadable to humans. Encrypt External Data Files
It packages this bytecode alongside game assets (sprites, audio, fonts) into a single game data file.
Bypass digital rights management systems to distribute pirated copies. How to Protect Your GMS2 Game From Decompilers