AFAIK Unreal Engine 4 and Cryengine have "Engine-as-a-Service" (EaaS) program. I think minimal subscription period is half-year or one year not sure. This contains current build and all the further updates to certain engine.
Its probably the best way how to lose a unnecessary role of (obsolete aka GEM) engine developer and focusing the developement on game content only.
Closer look:
Unreal Engine 4 for $19 per month. In addition to the monthly subscription fee, you also agree to fork over 5 percent of gross revenue resulting from any commercial products you build using UE4.
https://www.unrealengine.com/register
Seems really expensive... But perhaps UE3 could match.
Cryengine monthly subscription fee of 9.90 USD/EUR per user and royalty free.
http://cryengine.com/news/crytek-ann...ervice-program
Both engines can fit perfectly for indie studio with few people (developers).
If Best Way and DMS with help of 1C really licensed one of this engines and co-developed Men Of War 2 ( MOW was perfect ) it will mean new beginning or restart of whole franchise and for 99% it will bring new people surely.