Unity, a popular game engine that powers many of the games we play and love, has announced a new fee structure that will charge developers based on the number of times their game is installed by users. This change, which will take effect on January 1, 2024, has sparked outrage and criticism from the game development community, especially indie, mobile, and marginalized developers.
According to Unity’s blog post, the new fees are not intended to target small or hobbyist developers, but rather to align with the growth and success of larger developers. The new fees will apply after certain revenue and download thresholds are met, depending on the subscription tier and the market. The new fees range from $0.005 to $0.20 per install, which Unity claims is “a fair way to share in the success of our customers while still providing them with the best value in the industry”.
However, many developers disagree with Unity’s reasoning and see the new fees as unfair, harmful, and unsustainable for many games that rely on free or low-cost downloads, frequent updates, or piracy prevention. Some developers have expressed their frustration and anger on social media, forums, and blogs, calling the new fees a “huge blow”, a “terrible move”, and a “clear sign that Unity is losing touch with its core audience”.
One of the most vocal critics of the new fees is Rami Ismail, co-founder of Vlambeer, an indie studio known for games like Nuclear Throne and Super Crate Box. Ismail tweeted that the new fees will “discourage innovation, diversity, and experimentation in the game industry” and “make piracy more attractive for users who don’t want to pay extra fees”. He also pointed out that the new fees will disproportionately affect developers from emerging markets, where downloads are higher but revenues are lower.
Another prominent critic is Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, the maker of Unreal Engine, a rival game engine to Unity. Sweeney tweeted that Unity is “catering to the big studios and publishers who can afford these fees, while alienating the small and medium-sized developers who made them successful in the first place”. He also offered to help any Unity developer who wants to switch to Unreal Engine, which has a different fee structure based on revenue share.
Unity has responded to some of the feedback and clarified some of the details of the new fees on its blog post and FAQ page. The company has also stated that it is “always open to feedback and we will continue to listen and improve our services”. However, it is unclear if Unity will make any changes or concessions to appease its unhappy customers. For now, many developers are left wondering if they should stick with Unity or look for alternatives.
Relevant articles:
– Unity’s new “per-install” pricing enrages the game development community, Ars Technica, September 13, 2023
– Unity adds fee for installs for successful small devs, triggering a backlash, VentureBeat, September 13, 2023
– Game developers are furious about Unity’s new installation-based fees, MSN, September 13, 2023
– Unity clarifies new fee plans amid developer backlash, GamesIndustry.biz, September 13, 2023