Given that a game engine is the basis--the foundation--of a video game, it's something that both developers and players should find reliable and trustworthy; which is why many are concerned over Unity Software's new merger, with a company that has a track record of bundling malware and adware into their software installations. IronSource has been acquired by Unity for $4.4 billion, which further adds to the company's repertoire, after having bought visual effects studio Weta Digital late last year for $1.6 billion.

IronSource specializes in app monetization, usually advertisements, but they're also known throughout the tech world for having bundled sketchy downloads within their software. They were responsible for creating InstallCore, an open source SDK that served as a "cross-platform installer creation tool and ad-delivery platform" that packaged additional installers for software like RegClean Pro, DriverSupport and other toolbars, to the point that it was classified by a potentially unwanted application by antivirus software like Windows Defender and MalwareBytes, and was even referred to as full-on malware or a trojan. InstallCore was discontinued following the classification and controversy.

That isn't the only controversy that IronSource is behind, either; in 2015, Ben Edelman, an economist for web experiences, documented the insidious nature of InstallCore's programs, detailing another one of their releases, a fake Windows Snapchat client that installed five different adware programs and Android emulator Bluestacks. Unity's reasoning for the acquisition is to assist game developers with monetization, marketing, analytics, and discovery.

Our vision is to provide creators with a powerful, flexible engine that they can realize their visions through - quickly and beautifully - while introducing the tools that help them learn and better understand their audiences, helping them to more quickly iterate and improve to build a robust and scalable business from. As we move closer to this vision today, we couldn’t be more excited about bringing ironSource into the Unity family.

Source

 

[StiflingHat9897]

Thanks Unity!

 

[RAHelllord]

Can't wait until I buy a triple A release and have to manually unselect a dozen toolbars before I can even decide where to install the actual game.

 

[XDel]

Welcome to the 21st Century, it's called PROGRESS!

 

[Delerious]

Christ, the gaming industry is already bad enough. Last thing we need is for a highly-used engine to be plagued with adware! Watch, they'll probably start shoe-horning NFTs into Unity starting next year, and it will be done in the most invasive way possible.

 

[The Catboy]

Unity's reasoning for the acquisition is to assist game developers with monetization, marketing, analytics, and discovery.

Now it all makes sense, Unity knows that microtransactions turn games into malware. So they bought a team who already just cuts to the point.

 

[vincentx77]

I dunno. You could argue that half of the games made in Unity are malware in the first place.

 

[Kraken_X]

Steam automates the install of games, which is one of the big conveniances that brought PC gaming to the masses. Up until now, I've never heard of a game on Steam containing malware. If the games do start bundling malware how will we be able to deselect it? Hopefully Valve puts their foot down and says no malware like they banned NFTs.

 

[diggeloid]

This is a full ass merger, like Activision-Blizzard.

The good news here is that it creates opportunities for other engine and middleware developers to take market share from Unity, which has been on a downward spiral for years. Maybe Godot becomes the new Unity?

 

[Deleted member 194275]

Can't wait to play my AAA games developed on Hao123 engine.

 

[SG854]

Unity with Malware

 

[hippy dave]

Godot engine is getting pretty good, maybe all the plugin/resource developers should make stuff for that instead of Unity.

 

[Deleted member 194275]

-double post-

 

[anhminh]

Can't wait for the ads to pop-up in my game and automatically buy game from Epic Store.

 

[Viri]

When your video game installs Bonzi Buddy...

 

[leon315]

Thanks Unity!

somehow this line reminds me Rick and morty..........

 

[HarveyHouston]

Welp, time to go to Blender for video game making.

 

[smilodon]

Reject Unity, return to Pico8.

 

[xbmcuser]

Sony installed malware and skyward on PCs in the 2000s

 

[AngryCinnabon]

This could be really bad if the likes of Valve let it go unchecked on steam, but yeah, either way this is a garbage merger and I'm hoping alternatives like Godot can do something about this.