Adobe Animate to be discontinued

Adobe has recently announced that it will discontinue its 2D animation software, Adobe Animate.

The company stated that from March 1, 2026, the application will no longer be available for purchase or download by new customers. Adobe cited evolving technologies and the emergence of new platforms as the reason for discontinuing support for the software, which the company says has been available for over 25 years.

Existing users will have access for a limited time. For most customers, technical support, application access, and the ability to download content will end on March 1, 2027. Enterprise customers will receive extended support until March 1, 2029.

Adobe advises all users to export their Animate project files, known as FLA and XFL files, to other formats such as SWF, SVG, or MP4 before their respective support end dates. After these dates, access to project files will no longer be available.

The software will be moved to the 'Show Older Apps' section within the Creative Cloud desktop application. Adobe suggests customers on a Creative Cloud Pro plan use other tools like Adobe After Effects or Adobe Express for certain animation tasks.

The announcement has sparked a strong reaction online. Many animators, educators, and small studios, who depend on Animate's specific toolset for their work, have expressed despair and frustration on social media. Some have questioned how educational courses and professional workflows will adapt without the software, with many already considering alternatives.