Unity's Recent Policy U-Turn: What Happened?

In a surprising move, Unity recently faced severe backlash over its newly announced runtime fee policy, which would charge developers $0.20 per install for any game with more than 200,000 installs starting January 1, 2024. The pushback was so severe that Unity offices in San Francisco and Austin had to close due to credible death threats. Other developers, such as Massive Monster, even threatened to delete their Unity-made games if the policy went into effect.

The development community did not take kindly to these proposed changes, with many teams across the globe, including Rust 2 developer Facepunch Studios, stating they would no longer be making games in Unity. In an effort to clarify the policy, Unity explained that it would only count 'net new installs' on any devices starting January 1 and devs would not be paying fees on re-installations, fraudulent installs via botnets, trial versions, web games, streaming games, and charity-related installs.

Despite this clarification, many eyebrows were raised due to the ambiguity surrounding the term 'install.' For example, will developers be charged for multiple installs from those who install, uninstall, and reinstall their games? Even though there is no charge to consumers after a monthly fee, do Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus installs count?

In response to the backlash, Unity issued an apology and announced that it would be making changes to the policy. In a tweet, the company stated that it has been talking to its team members, community, customers, and partners and will share an update in a couple of days.

While details on the changes have not been shared yet, Unity's willingness to listen to feedback and adjust course is a welcome move for developers who were concerned about the implications of this policy. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it's essential for platforms like Unity to remain transparent and flexible in their approach to ensure the continued success of game development.

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