How 20-minute graphics turned the gaming world upside down

the lonlinessan American company whose software is used to design and run thousands of games, including successful games such as Pokemon Go And Genshin Impactannounced on September 12 New accusations For developers.

The company would charge 20 cents Every time a Unity-supported game is installed on any device, analysts warn that the move could bankrupt studios and cancel new releases.

Ten days later, after A Intense And it’s often cliched counterattack From studios and developers, Unity has backed away from some changes. But for many developers, Damage maybe Can not be Fixed.

“If I have to accept the current circumstances, I will leave,” said Alain Puget, director of the French studio Alchemy.

Unity claims that its technology powers 70% of the top 1,000 mobile games, and that users download apps built with its software four billion times a month. Charging even a small fee will pay off Great benefitsquoted by Agence France-Presse Taipei Times.

“Game developers are already starting to look at it Possibility of change “The game driver,” said Rhys Elliott, a market analyst at consultancy Newzoo.

The beginning of autumn

Everything was so different 2005, when Unity launched with the promise of democratizing game development. Its software platform was cheap and easy to use, and it quickly became a favorite among independent and small developers.

The main innovation was that designers could draw on elements from other games, such as background lighting or character movements. Before Unity and its competitors, every game was made to order, with graphics and everything else designed from scratch.

After an excellent rise, the company was listed on Stock trading the 2020. For many industry observers, the IPO was the beginning of the decline…

Company offering $2 billion in revenue In the United States this year, it has gone through several “waves” of layoffs and the alienation of users by improving software and prices.

Then he came”bomb“Ha September 12 After the backlash, the company returned with an apology. “We hear your concerns, you’re what makes Unity great” and a new offer to reduce the tax on the most successful games.

Puget believes the company has done “completely well.” silly“Ollie an offerfor this reason Later show To them, something that still makes them a huge profit, seems more like that friendly.

Big Minos

the exhausted From developers suggest that Unity has a long way to go before the community accepts it again.

Shortly after the initial announcement, an account was created on X to collect backlash titled “F***ed by the unit“, which gained more than 15,000 followers in a matter of days.

While some developers issued sincere messages, others resorted to images of middle fingers raised in front of the unity logo or short messages containing obscene expressions of dissatisfaction.

“Stop it. “WTF?” It was a harsh response from Innersloth, whose game Among Us, made using Unity software, has nearly 500 million players.

Puget said he wasn’t sure if there was a way for the unit to return, saying he “like everyone else” would look for alternatives.