Unity's new fees spark backlash among indie game developers

Unity engine announced plans to charge developers fees based on number of game installations, sparking backlash.
Makers of popular indie games like Among Us and Slay the Spire criticized Unity and some threatened to switch game engines.
Unity clarified some fee details but developers still upset, warning of delays to future releases if Unity doesn't abandon plans.
Going Under and Cult of the Lamb developers said dropping Unity would mean losing expertise and cause significant delays.
Impact unclear for mega-hits like Pokemon Go made with Unity; Microsoft and Valve yet to comment on effects for GamePass and Steam.

bbc.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/13/2023

Among Us Developer May Delist Game From Stores Amid Backlash Over Unity Engine Fees

Among Us, the popular game developed by Innersloth, may be temporarily pulled due to Unity's new installation fee policy, causing chaos and backlash in the gaming industry.

9/13/2023

Unity's New Fees Spark Backlash From Developers Over Tracking and Unintended Impacts

Game developers are expressing frustration and concern over Unity's new Runtime Fees, which will impose charges based on the number of times a game built with the Unity engine is installed, ultimately impacting popular games and potentially causing financial strain on studios.

9/18/2023

Unity Rolls Back Controversial Fee Plan After Backlash From Developers

Unity, the cross-platform game engine maker, is rolling back its plans to charge developers based on the number of installations and revenue after facing backlash from developers and receiving death threats.

9/27/2023

Unity Backtracks on Controversial Fee Plan After Developer Backlash, But Questions Remain About Sustainability

Game engine developer Unity faced backlash from developers after implementing a new fee structure that would charge for each game installation, but due to the negative response, the company rolled back its plans and made several changes to retain developers, although it may have still damaged Unity's reputation and may not significantly impact its financial situation.

Topics

Posted 9/14/2023, 2:21:14 PM

Unity's new fees spark backlash among indie game developers

Unity engine announced plans to charge developers fees based on number of game installations, sparking backlash.
Makers of popular indie games like Among Us and Slay the Spire criticized Unity and some threatened to switch game engines.
Unity clarified some fee details but developers still upset, warning of delays to future releases if Unity doesn't abandon plans.
Going Under and Cult of the Lamb developers said dropping Unity would mean losing expertise and cause significant delays.
Impact unclear for mega-hits like Pokemon Go made with Unity; Microsoft and Valve yet to comment on effects for GamePass and Steam.

bbc.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/13/2023

Among Us Developer May Delist Game From Stores Amid Backlash Over Unity Engine Fees

Among Us, the popular game developed by Innersloth, may be temporarily pulled due to Unity's new installation fee policy, causing chaos and backlash in the gaming industry.

9/13/2023

Unity's New Fees Spark Backlash From Developers Over Tracking and Unintended Impacts

9/18/2023

Unity Rolls Back Controversial Fee Plan After Backlash From Developers

9/27/2023

Unity Backtracks on Controversial Fee Plan After Developer Backlash, But Questions Remain About Sustainability