Unity Apologizes for Install Fee Policy and Commits to Implementing Changes

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Unity Apologizes for Confusion Over Runtime Fee Policy

Unity, the popular game development platform, has issued an apology regarding the confusion and anger caused by its recently announced runtime fee policy. The company has acknowledged the negative feedback from various stakeholders and has promised to make changes to the policy.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Unity announced that it has been engaging with team members, community members, customers, and partners to gather feedback and insights. Unity did not provide specific details about the changes but assured that updates will be shared in a few days.

“We have heard you. We apologize for the confusion and angst the runtime fee policy we announced on Tuesday caused. We are listening, talking to our team members, community, customers, and partners, and will be making changes to the policy. We will share an update in a couple of days. Thank you for your honest and critical feedback.” – Unity

The Runtime Fee Policy Explained

The controversial runtime fee policy was initially announced by Unity and was set to take effect on January 1, 2024. Under the policy, game developers would be charged $0.20 per install for any game that has more than 200,000 installs. However, the definition of “install” and the potential implications of the fee raised significant concerns within the developer community.

Unity attempted to clarify the policy by stating that it would only count “net new installs” on any device starting January 1. The company also mentioned that developers would not be charged fees for reinstallations, fraudulent installs via botnets, trial versions, web and streaming games, and charity-related installs. Unity estimated that approximately 90 percent of its customers would not be affected by the policy change.

Backlash and Consequences

The proposed changes and clarifications from Unity were met with resistance from the development community. Several game development studios, including Facepunch Studios (developers of Rust 2), announced that they would no longer develop games using the Unity platform. Other studios, such as Massive Monster, even threatened to delete their Unity-made games if the policy changes were implemented.

The backlash against Unity’s policy became so severe that the company had to close its offices in San Francisco and Austin due to a credible death threat. These threats highlight the level of frustration and anger felt by developers affected by the policy.

Looking Ahead

Unity’s promise to make changes to the runtime fee policy demonstrates the company’s willingness to listen to the concerns and feedback of developers and stakeholders. The gaming industry will eagerly await the updates from Unity in the coming days to understand the scope and nature of the changes.

As the story continues to unfold, it is crucial to delve into the reasons behind the massive backlash among game developers and specifically identify the Unity games that could be most affected by these controversial changes.