Where can I get the wallpaper in this picture?

I wanted a fair bit more for that pricing.  The difference between V4 & V5 is minimal and isnt worth a 300% increase as @PhoenixRising1  pointed out.

Fences 4 was a one-time purchase for 19,50€.

The last time I upgraded Fences from version to version it was $5. Now, if I want to go the non-subscription route, the upgrade is $27, over 5 times the previous price. 

I get inflation etc. but that's just slapping your loyal customers in the face just so you can bring in new ones that will pay you money every year. SaaS for single app desktop customization is ridiculous.

Its yours until the next version comes out.  Then they hit you again if you want the upgrade.

Hmm... if you purchased OD after May 2023, which includes me, the software will stop functioning at all if you do not continue to subscribe annually. Did I read that correctly?

It continues to function the same as when you bought it.

If that version satisfies your needs, then you dont have to buy nor subscribe to a subsequent one, nor does a subsequent version inactivate or invalidate the version in your posession.

You are not forced to buy a subsequent version for any reason. If you want a newer version, with more/different features, then you pay for it. Same for anything else in the world.

From what I read, if you start Subscribing Object Desktop After May 2023 it may cease to function if you let your subscription lapse after the year period end.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Oooh that hurts... I'd been thinking it would remain at the level it was when the subscription ran out like it had been up until May of 23. Is there any chance of leniency? I came on board in July I believe.

I agree with many of the comments about the subscription. It's like you tried to sneak that one over on us. I've upgraded every version so far, but I'll skip on this one. Thanks anyway.

I would expect that the permanent license I already paid for would carry over to future upgrades of the software. A small fee to upgrade to the newest version, as has been the precedent going from Fences -> Fences 2 -> Fences 3 -> Fences 4. What's not expected is that I should need to pay  $30 this time for...what, exactly? Two new, non-critical, features. Nah...I'll stick with V4.

If Fences 5 eventually gets more features that actually matter and make it worth paying $30 for, then great...but this ain't it.

I've always sung Stardock's praises to anyone who will listen, but this feels like a money grab and anti-consumer decision. 

Edit: fixed verbage to accurately describe past upgrade pricing 

I would expect that the permanent license I already paid for would carry over to future upgrades of the software. A small fee to upgrade to the newest version, as has been the precedent going from Fences -> Fences 2 -> Fences 3 -> Fences 4. What's not expected is that I should need to pay  $30 this time for...what, exactly? Two new, non-critical, features. Nah...I'll stick with V4.

If Fences 5 eventually gets more features that actually matter and make it worth paying $30 for, then great...but this ain't it.

I've always sung Stardock's praises to anyone who will listen, but this feels like a money grab and anti-consumer decision. 

Edit: fixed verbage to accurately describe past upgrade pricing 

It isn't, but the facts won't convince you.

Just to clarify something, Fences upgrades have always been charged for unless owned via an active Object Desktop subscription or purchased within a set time of the new version coming out.

That's true. I misremembered. If I recall correctly, it's always been a small upgrade fee for owners of the prior version ($5 - $8 seems right?). I've certainly never payed $30 for a Fences upgrade which, when combined with the usual upgrade cost only being for those moving to a sub, really comes across as greed and putting profits over all other decisions. To argue that there is any motive other than money is willful ignorance. 

Wasn't aware it was a moderators job to throw around catty quips. What facts? Either elaborate and contribute to the discourse, or go moderate another thread.

Listen, I get it ... business is business. Data shows that subscription models ensure long term profits. Single sale transactions are a one time thing. Sure you can charge an upgrade fee (this is how Reason Studios handles major version updates for those who already own the software, and how Stardock used to) but that is quite different than asking customers to pay a yearly fee for a subscription. There are plenty of issues that arise from every software company under the sun moving to subscription models, but that's another topic altogether.

The bottom line is; to pretend this decision was made for any reason other than profits is disingenuous. 

Nice gift to your loyal customers for your 30th year, thanks!

No way I'm going to upgrade.

Sure this really feels like a money grab and anti-consumer decision.

The pricing was determined by the increase in number of features offered.

Dev time costs. Either that's conveyed in yearly subscriptions like Adobe does it, or via lifetime licenses.

You have mail.

Chameleon should have been sold as its own "Product".  Bundling it and jacking up the price of Fences by justifying the new features tells us you don't understand the difference between pretty and practical. Fence users, I'm betting, are all about being practical.  Folks who want a prettier desktop (colors and fading) should buy that in a separate Product, for a reasonable price.  Then again, maybe your R&D figured out that nobody wanted it enough to do that to cover your dev costs, so  -ta-da- we got V5 Freakin' Franken-Fences.

How did that song go? "We're not going to take it..."

To be fair, Chameleon is the main entrée of Fences 5. Anyone not looking for Chameleon probably shouldn't buy Fences 5 and instead stay with Fences 4. Once Windows 12 drops we will be looking at buying Fences 6 anyways so Fences 4 and 5 will always be equally compatible with windows 11.