First of all: I am not writing this out of anger or to "bash" Serif. On the contrary: If I didn't care about the programs AND the company, I would have just read and that's that. But since I have appreciated both the Affinity Suite and Serif for ages, I am writing because I am both concerned (very much so) and saddened by this development.
Saddening news and I am really devasted about it. I switched from Adobe's in$anity exactly 10 years ago and loved this company to death - even having used their Page Plus, Draw Plus, Web Plus etc. for years before the Affinity line was published.
Using the Affinity suite was (and for the moment: still is) great.
However having been around for almost half a century and knowing how acquisitions - especially in the tech world - end up nearly all the time, I just can't see any other future than: V3 - subscription (why else would the FAQ include red flags like no changes at the moment and updates to V2). If Canva keeps the apps at all and not just "include" some of their most wanted aspects into their, well, "app beloved by millions and millions of users".
I'll keep an eye on how this whole situation unfolds.
However I will start with a *very* heavy heart to look for alternatives instead of going on a haul on their spring sale (which I would have, if there wasn't this bad news). This time and for the lack of alternatives in the Open Source area. I don't want to be caught off guard again if Canva "surprisingly" changes its mind and the monthly fee is advertised with the "nicest" PR bullsh*t bingo on the website.
I really really do hope that you, Serif, will, or better said: I really do hope that they/Canva will let you, Serif, really continue with what made your suite so unique AND affordable with a one-time-buy, which is why a lot of us left Adobe's subscription lunacy years ago.
However my experience tells me that all roads lead to compulsory subscriptions and milking the paying cattle to death.
Accompanied by horrible AI excesses, because that's the "hot sh*t" today.
Let's not forget: We're talking about Canva here.
Really, Serif (or Canva): Please proof wrong.
Please be the one exception to the rule.
Just this one time (referring to the rule of predatory capitalism, not to the Serif team).