Unity Restricts License Changes on GitHub and Removes Developer-Friendly TOS Clause

n a recent revelation, a Reddit user named Darkfrost found that Unity, the leading game development platform, has blocked the ability to track license changes on GitHub by removing its repository. Additionally, the platform removed a developer-friendly clause from its Terms of Service (TOS). This clause previously allowed developers to use the previous TOS for engine versions that were released within the last calendar year.

Many game developers believe that with these actions, Unity has significantly eroded the trust the community had in the company. Development studios and teams are now in doubt about Unity's transparency, wondering if the platform may introduce new fees or further unfavorable changes to the TOS without giving its users a choice.

Significantly, by the end of August and early September, several Unity engine developers resigned. They voiced concerns over Unity's changing business model. According to them, many were against introducing a download fee for games, but Unity's management didn't heed their concerns.

On September 12, 2023, Unity announced the introduction of the Unity Runtime Fee, starting from 2024. This fee will be imposed on developers of popular projects once a specific number of installations of their games is exceeded. Unity clarified that this new business model "will allow developers to maintain consistent financial profit from interactions with players, as opposed to a revenue share." The Unity Runtime Fee will apply to games based on specific conditions, which vary according to the Unity subscription the developer has.

Once a game's statistics exceed certain revenue and installation thresholds, developers (or studios or publishers) will need to pay Unity a small fixed commission for each new game installation.

The developer community heavily criticized Unity's new monetization model. For many games, this means a substantial increase in commissions and payments to Unity without any added benefits of using the Unity engine. Some studios have even begun considering migrating their game projects to other engines, including Unreal Engine.

Dmitry Terekhin, the founder of Nekki Studio, commented on Unity's new pricing policy and the introduction of the Unity Runtime Fee for major game market players. He believes the payment system change primarily affects mobile game developers and could lead to large studios experiencing a fifty-fold increase in costs.

In a rapidly evolving game development landscape, Unity's decisions have stirred concerns and debates among developers. Many wonder whether Unity's pivot towards increased monetization will benefit the broader development community or primarily serve Unity's corporate interests. As competition grows fiercer in the gaming engine market, only time will tell how Unity's choices will impact its position and reputation in the industry.