“Developers React Strongly to Unity’s New Revenue Model: Concerns Over its Impact on Games like Among Us, Cult of the Lamb, and Indie Developers”
The debate surrounding Unity’s recently introduced revenue model has gained momentum, drawing the attention of developers, including Innersloth, creators of the popular game Among Us. Innersloth has voiced its concerns about Unity’s revenue changes, hinting at potential delays in content and feature updates for Among Us due to the need to port the game to another engine. This decision could have dire consequences for indie developers lacking the resources to make such a transition.
Massive Monster, the studio behind Cult of the Lamb, also chimed in, humorously encouraging players to purchase their game before Unity’s new revenue model takes effect on January 1st, 2024. This jest highlights Unity’s intention to track installs, potentially leading to fees even for delisted games.
Developers are openly criticizing Unity’s new per-install fees, urging the company to reconsider before they are forced to abandon the engine in favor of alternatives. Aggro Crab Games, developers of the highly-anticipated title “Another Crab’s Treasure,” expressed concerns that Unity’s model would disproportionately affect indie developers, particularly those relying on Xbox Game Pass to reach a wider audience. The potential fees resulting from downloads by Xbox Game Pass subscribers could significantly impact studios, considering various factors like piracy, multiple installs, and multi-platform releases.
The response from developers and the gaming community to Unity’s revenue model changes has been overwhelmingly negative. The future impact on Unity’s decision remains uncertain, but it has already raised questions about the platform’s reputation.
Unity, known for its cross-platform capabilities and accessibility for small teams, has faced criticism in recent years due to unpopular changes. These alterations began around the time of its public stock exchange listing as it aimed to compete with Unreal Engine and other industry competitors.
Unity’s new model involves monthly fees per installation, with costs increasing at specific revenue thresholds. Notably, these fees do not account for game usage time, and it remains unclear whether they will include pirated copies. This change poses potential challenges for charity services like Humble Bundle, free-to-play titles, and Xbox Game Pass, as games on these platforms may not generate continuous revenue through in-app purchases.
Developers have expressed concerns about Unity potentially profiting more from freemium games than the developers themselves, raising questions about fairness. Ongoing projects that did not anticipate these additional fees are now facing uncertainty.
Unity as a business has experienced financial difficulties, with negative operating income in 2022 and a declining share price. The company announced layoffs to reduce costs and has been striving for consistent profitability.
Unity’s previously competitive pricing advantage over Unreal Engine may be diminishing, raising the possibility of developers seeking alternatives. Additionally, subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, which feature games made with Unity, could face changes in their offerings.
As Unity’s fees cut into profit margins, some ventures may become economically unviable in an already challenging and volatile market, especially in a year marked by studio closures and layoffs. Unity’s decision to roll out these changes on January 1st, 2024, adds uncertainty to its future in the industry.