Unity, the popular game development platform, has come under fire for its recent announcement of new fees that would charge developers up to 20 cents per install of all Unity games starting from January 1, 2024. This move has sparked a massive backlash from developers and raised concerns about potential abuse and financial harm to studios.
One major concern is the open nature of this system, which could be exploited by angry players. Instead of resorting to review bombing, players could repeatedly install and uninstall games to inflict financial damage on studios. Unity has confirmed that multiple installs from the same player will result in multiple charges. Additionally, there are worries that Unity titles offered on subscription services like Game Pass and PS+ could also incur significant costs for developers. According to Unity’s definition, even installations and distribution via streaming count as installs, potentially impacting cloud gaming as well.
However, Unity has attempted to address some of these concerns after facing severe criticism. The company now states that multiple installs by the same player will only be charged once, but if a player installs a game on multiple devices, each device will incur a separate charge. Regarding subscription services, Unity clarifies that the fees will be charged to distributors, such as Microsoft in the case of Game Pass. This could have implications for the subscription and cloud gaming models.
Under the new fee structure, Microsoft could be charged up to $0.20 for every installation of a Unity game through Game Pass or streaming via xCloud. It is unlikely that Microsoft would accept responsibility for these fees without contest. Similarly, Sony would likely be responsible for PS+ installs and streams under this proposed system.
These changes could also impact mobile game developers, as frequent phone upgrades would result in constant install charges. For example, Genshin Impact, one of the most popular games made with Unity, could become a significant source of revenue for Unity under this new system.
Above all, these changes erode developer trust in Unity. The sudden attempt to alter the rules for all Unity games with minimal notice raises concerns about future changes and increased charges. It is difficult to view this move as anything other than corporate greed. While Unity claims it aims to reinvest in its engine, the timing of the announcement, coinciding with executives selling shares and a subsequent dip in trading price, suggests self-interest may be the primary motivation.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
