Native Instruments’ upgrade model is a total racket . am I alone in my feelings ?

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As a longtime user of Native Instruments products, having invested in Komplete since Ultimate 6 and upgrading through the years, I feel compelled to express my frustration and concern over the current state of NI’s upgrade model. I am not alone in this—many users have voiced similar dissatisfaction, yet nothing seems to change.

The core issue is simple: the value proposition for long-term users is diminishing. Each time an upgrade rolls around, we are asked to spend upwards of $400 for what amounts to a handful of new instruments, minor improvements, and a lot of recycled content. The reality is, much of what’s being offered as an “upgrade” could be replicated by purchasing a couple of high-quality third-party sample libraries—at a fraction of the cost.

More frustrating is NI’s lack of consideration for previous purchases. today I considered buying the guitar rig upgrade but If I buy a standalone product like Guitar Rig today, I will still be charged for it again in the next Komplete bundle, with no concession for already owning it. This forces users into a cycle of unnecessary repurchasing, which feels exploitative rather than customer-friendly. If Native Instruments truly valued its loyal user base, it would introduce a system that accounts for individual purchases and offers dynamic, fairer upgrade pricing.

Instead I opted to by doom by line 6 and NAM giving away pro-level amp modeling for free which is updated daily .

Additionally, the innovation gap is glaring. Kontakt 8’s loop manipulation engine? Hardly groundbreaking in 2025. Guitar Rig 7? Not exactly revolutionary when open-source alternatives like NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) offer incredible amp modeling for free. What used to be industry-leading innovation is now starting to feel like a subscription model in disguise, where users are being charged just to maintain access to a slightly updated version of what they already own.

So, NI, here’s the challenge: Lift your game.

• Offer genuinely new and innovative tools that justify an upgrade—not just minor refinements.
• Introduce a fair upgrade path that takes into account previously purchased standalone products.
• Stop re-selling the same content under the guise of a full upgrade.
• Reward long-term users instead of making them feel like they’re just being milked for cash.

On top of this, NI has repeatedly abandoned once-promoted hardware, leaving loyal customers stranded. Maschine 1 users, for example, have seen their devices left behind without further software support, despite their significant investment. Likewise, Rig Kontrol—once a flagship controller for Guitar Rig—was discarded with no real effort to provide an upgrade path. This disregard for long-term users who invested in NI’s ecosystem adds to the frustration and erodes trust in the company’s commitment to its customer base.

I am speaking up because I love NI’s products and want to see the company return to the innovative, forward-thinking mindset that made it the powerhouse it once was. But right now, NI is resting on its past successes while competitors are moving forward. It’s time to evolve.

I wish the community and management seriously consider these concerns and open a dialogue on how Native Instruments can better serve its dedicated users

Sincerely,
A Frustrated Yet Hopeful Longtime User

Mutis

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DunedinDragon

It sounds to me like your frustration is really based on the whole "package" concept of working with NI products. In this case what you're paying for is a simplified upgrade of all your libraries and the core versions of the software as compared to someone like myself who manages them all individually with libraries from NI as well as other vendors. It costs me less to do those things separately, but I pay with my time and effort but have a lot more flexibility in my setup.

However this last series of upgrades hasn't been easy for anyone really simply because this was all based on changes to the underlying technical operations involving the adoption of a number of new industry-wide standards that will allow more flexibility and integration between the vendors. So even though it was somewhat painful over the last couple of years, it's working itself out for the most part so I'm okay with the potential it now brings to the table.