Creator earnings

When you create on Asterune, there are several ways your work can earn Runes. This page explains the main earning models and how your earnings flow into your creator balance. Once you've earned enough, you can convert eligible Runes to real-world currency through the Developer Exchange.

Ways to earn#

Different games and creators earn in different ways, and most successful creators combine several of these:

• In-game item and content sales — sell cosmetics, upgrades, or other content inside your game for Runes. When a player buys, you earn a share of what they spend
• Game passes — offer one-time purchases that unlock perks, areas, abilities, or special status in your game
• Paid access — charge Runes for access to the game itself, where that fits your experience
• Engagement-based payouts — earn based on how much time players spend genuinely playing and enjoying your game. The more engaging your game, the more it can earn
• Luminary engagement bonus — when Luminary subscribers play your game, your engagement earnings from them are boosted, rewarding you for attracting and retaining subscribers
• Marketplace asset sales — sell avatar items or assets you've made to other creators and players across the platform

The right mix depends on your game. A social hangout might lean on engagement and cosmetics, while a progression game might combine game passes with in-game content.

Earned Runes vs. purchased Runes#

Runes you receive from any of the above are earned Runes, tracked in your creator balance separately from any Runes you've personally bought. This distinction matters:

• Earned Runes can be spent on the platform and are eligible for conversion to real money through the Developer Exchange
• Purchased Runes — Runes you bought for yourself — are spend-only and are not eligible for the Developer Exchange

Your creator dashboard clearly separates the two so there's no ambiguity about what you've earned.

Your creator dashboard#

Track your performance and earnings from your Creator Dashboard, where you can see your earned Rune balance, how individual games and items are performing, and trends over time. Use these insights to understand what your players value and where your earnings come from.

Cashing out#

Once your eligible earned balance reaches the minimum threshold, you can request a real-money payout through the Developer Exchange. That program covers the exchange rate, eligibility (including identity verification), payout methods, and taxes in detail.

Earning fairly#

Earnings must come from genuine player activity. Artificially inflating your earnings — through self-purchasing, bot or fake engagement, coordinated manipulation, exploiting bugs, or any similar scheme — is a serious violation of our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. It can result in forfeited earnings, removal from earning programs, and account action. Keep your account in good standing to remain eligible to earn and to cash out.

Getting help#

For questions about how your earnings are calculated, your creator dashboard, or earning programs, contact us at Solarius support with your creator account username. For payouts specifically, see the Developer Exchange page.