Some users who took advantage of the 40th-anniversary rebates in September to purchase or upgrade to Cubase 13 have expressed frustration about not receiving a free update to Cubase 14.
It’s understandable that if you’ve just invested in a new version, you’d expect to be on the latest release. When a new iteration arrives only a month later, your recent purchase may feel less valuable. However, let me assure you that this isn’t the case. You received Cubase 13 with an exceptional 50% discount, plus additional savings for some through a loyalty rebate. These discounts were part of Steinberg’s 40th-anniversary promotion and represent a level of rebate we haven’t offered since Cubase’s 30th anniversary five years ago.
For several years, our grace period has been set at four weeks. Customers who redeem a license within four weeks before a new version’s release are eligible for a free update. This policy is in place to support users who purchase at the regular price right before an update is released. However, we must draw the line somewhere, and it’s understandable that missing the cutoff by a day or even a week is disappointing. But, as with any set deadline, there will always be someone who narrowly misses it.
If you’re just starting with Cubase 13, updating to Cubase 14 isn’t required right away. You can take your time to explore all the new features in 13 and upgrade whenever it suits you best. You can skip a version, wait for another sales promotion, or upgrade now if the new features and improvements in Cubase 14 make it worth the update price for you. If you’d like to try it out first, a 60-day trial of Cubase 14 is available—there’s no pressure.
However, why is there so much secrecy regarding releases? It seems that in the modern world this goes against you more than it goes for you.
I ask if it would be better to announce a new version and planned release date ahead of time, then start the grace period from that date so that you don’t lose sales?
It serves as sales drive in itself, but it also offers more transparency for end users.
Reading people’s messages I think it’s the way a paid update comes out of the blue which they don’t appreciate. Especially when there was a deviation with the March release.
There’s also no indication if future paid updates will be a yearly or two yearly thing. Just a bit of communication on that would be nice, we’re all trying to support yourself and the products but we have our own finances to manage also.
Sales are never announced in advance in this or any other business. Otherwise you wouldn’t sell outside sales, and that’s not fair for the seller either. We have to understand that.
Also, when release date is announced for a new product in advance, usually it comes with a pre-buy offer, otherwise it doesn’t make much sense because people would hold for the next version and you wouldn’t sell your product either.
There are a number of reasons for this, but one of the prime reasons is to do with revenue recognition:
Although sales may like roadmaps, accounting does not. According to GAAP rules on revenue recognition for software companies, producing a roadmap can be viewed as a commitment to provide the customer all of the services and enhancements listed. If the contract is construed in such a way that the roadmap appears to be a commitment to provide future services, all revenue has to be deferred until the enhancements have been delivered.
Why didn’t you delay the activation to a later stage to catch the grace period? You could have taken advantage of the discount in September but waited to activate, which would have been the most advantageous option for you, rather than feeling now that Steinberg has shortchanged you.
We know that Nuendo is the big brother of Cubase But unfortunately the versions are not released at the same time. I think the updates should be simultaneous. Also Nuendo youtube and social media channels are quite weak. We have to follow Cubase users to get information. This is a bit sad for us. I wonder if Steinberg doesn’t like Nuendo as much as we do? :((( On the other hand, the ipad controller is paid and I have to use it for free with an avid controller. I think you should make the ipad controller free like you integrated Dorico into Cubase for free. This way we can create macro buttons with pleasure and work more integrated with the program. By the way, as an old PT user, I’m sorry that I discovered you late Nuendo, forgive me. I was unfair to you :)))
You don’t need a crystal ball. For the past 10 years, new versions of Cubase have been released at the same time each year, with the grace period starting 4 weeks prior. It’s somewhat of a token of gratitude to loyal users—we’re aware of this, and those with more limited financial means tend to upgrade every two versions. Even a question to ChatGPT could tell you the best date to activate your license for maximum benefit.
Exactly this. I bought the update from C11 to 13 in the September sale, then parked it until this week.
Just to be clear, I parked it because although Ithe sale price was attractive, my room was in bits whilst doing some refurbishment and installing a new input/output system. Not with the intention of waiting for the C14 release, the timing of which was an accidental bonus.
Can’t help but feeling “cheated” here (had to fight real hard not to not use the wording I had initially thought to use, which envolves dropping my pants). The time difference between the 50% discount of the 13 update, and the release 14 have been timed perfectly by Steinberg to ensure no one is entitled to a grace period update. Whether or not “updating to Cubase 14 isn’t required right away” is completely beside the point. For me its more that you deplibratly chose to time these two events (discount and release of 14) to ensure this outcome.
Cubase 12 was an exception. The new license system caused that. In fact, Steinberg told us that the new activation system would move the release date for Cubase 12.
I’m really willing to pay for software. That’s what I did in the sale in September, I bought Cubase and a few other things, discounted. As a returning customer, I was not aware that they had a major release every year. I was also not aware of grace period details.
For me, like for others, I feel cheated - having that sale in September, knowing there is a release 6 weeks later, just does not feel right. As some other posters said - it’s not about if Cubase 14 is required or not. If I had known of the new release, I had activated my license later - I did not really use it since I bought it, just planned to do so during the winter months, now I on an outdated version.
Not very happy about that. Turned away from a competitor because of strange update and pricing politics, now my old new DAW does the same somehow… disapponted.
But unfortunately the versions are not released at the same time. I think the updates should be simultaneous. Also Nuendo youtube and social media channels are quite weak. We have to follow Cubase users to get information. This is a bit sad for us. I wonder if Steinberg doesn’t like Nuendo as much as we do? :((( On the other hand, the ipad controller is paid and I have to use it for free with an avid controller. I think you should make the ipad controller free like you integrated Dorico into Cubase for free. This way we can create macro buttons with pleasure and work more integrated with the program. By the way, as an old PT user, I’m sorry that I discovered you late Nuendo, forgive me. I was unfair to you :)))