First released as a GPL-licensed DirectX 9 game engine for Microsoft Windows with Python programming on October 27, 2007, it later became proprietary software with Construct 2, as well as switching its API technology from DirectX to NW.js and HTML5, as well as removing Python and adding JavaScript support and its plugin SDK in 2012,[7] and eventually switched to a subscription-based model as a web app.

[12] Construct 3 supports JavaScript as an optional scripting language which was announced in May 2019, citing the need to satisfy the advanced users' needs and popularity of existing workarounds.

[8] The latest version of Construct supports many platforms to export to, such as web applications and playable advertisements, to dedicated programs and mobile apps.

It claims support across Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 9+, Safari 6+ and Opera 15+ on desktop browsers, and support for Safari in iOS 6+, Chrome and Firefox for Android, Windows Phone 8+, BlackBerry 10+ and Tizen.

[14] On October 23, 2012, Scirra announced full support for exporting to Windows 8 Metro applications, including the incorporation of in-app purchases, 'snap' view states, roaming data, sharing, live tiles, touch input and accelerometer and inclinometer input.

[18] On January 20, 2014, Scirra announced that Construct 2 would be receiving support for Nintendo's Wii U system.

[19] Later that year, a plug-in was released to make Construct-based games compatible with the Nintendo Web Framework.

On April 13, 2016, Scirra announced that Construct 2's UWP support will allow publishing games to the Xbox One.

Unlike its successors, it is a free and open source game engine using DirectX.

[25] This version largely defined the software's visual programming language and separately supported Python scripting.

[31] On February 20, 2020, Scirra announced plans to discontinue Construct 2, with sales of new licenses retired on July 1, 2020.

[41] On May 23, 2019, JavaScript coding was announced as a separate add-on, but was free for all users who had a paying license before September 2, 2019.