Unity Engine, a prominent software development company known for the widely utilized Unity engine, recently implemented significant alterations to its monetization policies in response to widespread backlash. The focal point of the controversy was the Unity Runtime Fee policy, which necessitated developers to pay Unity each time a game developed with the engine was transferred, encompassing reinstalled games and older engine versions.
Revised Policies
The updated policies entail the following changes:
– For Unity Personal: The runtime fee policy has been entirely eliminated for games created with Unity Personal. Moreover, the revenue threshold has been raised from $100,000 to $200,000, and developers are no longer obligated to showcase the “Made with Unity” splash screen at the commencement of their games.
– For Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise: The runtime fee policy remains in effect, but it will not be retroactively imposed on previous games. Rather, only games developed using the upcoming Long-Term Support (LTS) version of the Unity engine, slated for release in 2024, will be subject to the runtime fee.
Rationale and Response
These policy adjustments were prompted by the intense criticism directed towards Unity, particularly from independent developers, concerning the financial strain imposed by the original policy and the absence of community consultation. The ensuing backlash led to Unity canceling a scheduled meeting and shuttering two of its offices due to a “credible death threat.”
Unity’s revamped policies strive to strike a balance between generating revenue for the company and offering more equitable and adaptable monetization terms for developers, with the aim of assuaging community concerns.
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