Developer protests force Unity to backtrack on greedy policy change

Huge gaming mainstays like Voodoo.io, Azur Games, and SayGames, which represent hundreds of titles each were at the forefront, shrewdly targeting Unity in the pocket in the same way they had been.

Further piling on the pressure, several developers who weren’t directly impacted threatened never to use Unity in the future to show solidarity, while other so-called partners weighed up porting their existing projects to competitor game engines such as Unreal.

SIGH pic.twitter.com/YgJEKGVQEI

— AGGRO CRAB (@AggroCrabGames) September 12, 2023

With its hand largely forced, Unity has now reconsidered its position and claimed that only companies planning to use its upcoming versions of Unity toolkits will have to deal with fees in 2024 and beyond.

Of those who wish to use the upcoming engine, any title which makes under $1 million in annual revenue will also not be charged. That is what you call a complete U-turn.

Some are now satisfied with Unity’s reconciliation and are willing to forgive, but others believe the damage is already done and will be shunning the engine entirely.

‘You can’t promise away the notion that you won’t quietly remove important clauses from the ToS after you’ve already tried it,’ posted Glomwood developer Dillon Rogers on X.

The primary issue – beyond the absurd (and fortunately now optional) install fee – is the terms of service changes.

You can’t promise away the notion that you won’t quietly remove important clauses from the ToS after you’ve already tried it. That damage is permanent.

— Dillon Rogers (@TafferKing451) September 22, 2023

As someone who takes a keen interest in gaming both recreationally and in the wider business sense, it’s staggering to see PR disasters like this continuing to crop up in 2023.

Within the bracket of entertainment, gaming has far and away the lowest tolerance for cash grab manoeuvres, though it is typically consumers who have their fingers burnt.

In this instance, however, it’s encouraging to see a similarly steadfast attitude being displayed by game makers. These people work under tight deadlines and high pressure to deliver the experiences we know and love.

The least they deserve is a little transparency – and not to be sucker-punched by obtuse, potentially business shattering changes.