Unity, a popular game engine, has announced a significant change that has left many indie game developers frustrated. Starting on January 1, 2024, Unity will introduce the ‘Unity Runtime Fee,’ which will be charged to developers based on the number of installs their games have achieved. This new fee structure has triggered backlash from indie studios and the gaming community.
The Unity Runtime Fee will apply to games that meet specific criteria. For users of Unity Personal or Unity Plus, their games must have generated at least $200,000 USD in revenue in the last 12 months and amassed a minimum of 200,000 lifetime installs. On the other hand, games created by Unity Pro and Unity Expertise users must have generated at least $1 million USD in the last 12 months and achieved over one million lifetime installs before the fees apply.
Once a game meets these thresholds, the monthly fee is calculated based on the additional number of installs per month, with the cost varying depending on the developer’s Unity plan and the country where the games are installed. Standard fees apply to specific countries, while emerging market fees apply to all other countries.
One key point of contention is that Unity will charge for new installs made after January 1, 2024, including instances where a game is deleted and then reinstalled. This means that developers could incur charges even when users haven’t spent additional money on their game.
The announcement has sparked anger within the indie game development community, with many developers expressing their frustration and concerns on social media platforms like Twitter. Some developers have even suggested that they may reconsider using Unity for their future projects if these changes are not reversed. There is a sense of uncertainty and unease among indie studios, as this shift in fees could have a significant impact on their business models and the cost of game development.
Unity’s decision has also garnered negative reactions from industry figures and prominent voices within the gaming community, with some describing it as a “joke.”
According to an anonymous source from Unity, people within the company are “furious,” and internal discussions before the announcement highlighted many of the issues that developers are now criticizing.
In response to the backlash, Unity has stated on Twitter that it is “actively listening to and following your questions closely,” suggesting that the company may be open to further discussions or adjustments in response to developer feedback. The controversy surrounding this change highlights the challenges of balancing revenue generation with the needs and concerns of the indie game development community, which plays a vital role in the gaming industry’s diversity and innovation.
