Following a large community backlash after the popular game engine creator Unity announced plans for it to charge a "per install" fee; the company has apologised for "confusion" surrounding the plans and have stated that they will be "making changes to the policy" going forward.

For those unfamiliar - a week ago, Unity announced plans for new fees based on game installs. In practice, the proposed changes would effectively cost game publishers up to $0.20 every single time a game is installed or even reinstalled by a user. But unsurprisingly these plans were met with controversy and disdain from those developers using the platform as well as the community at large, with many game creators speaking out on social media with some even going as far as to announce plans to move over to competing game engine platforms.

Today, Unity took to X/Twitter with an apology and said that there was a "confusion" surrounding the plans and that they would be making adjustments to the policy after feedback from the community.

We have heard you. We apologize for the confusion and angst the runtime fee policy we announced on Tuesday caused. We are listening, talking to our team members, community, customers, and partners, and will be making changes to the policy. We will share an update in a couple of…

— Unity (@unity) September 17, 2023

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[Localhorst86]

"We are sorry that you are confused and overreacting"

 

[Veho]

"We apologize for the confusion and angst the runtime fee policy we announced on Tuesday caused" as if the users somehow misunderstood the new licensing policy, or as if it didn't add bogus fees. "Stop whining like a bunch of babies, we'll change it. But you're being really bitchy about it, you know."

 

[Lazyboss]

Confusion my ass, they know what they are doing.

 

[datapagan]

Why is it that when a company goes public, it turns to total shit?
Oh wait its now because they legally have to be greedy and chase profits

 

[Reploid]

I had like zero doubts.

 

[RupeeClock]

Common tactic: Make the worst possible proposal, walk it back to see how much you can still get away with whilst doing the terrible thing.

 

[GolfDude]

 

[ZeroFX]

Ha ha

 

[masagrator]

"I'm sorry we got caught. We will be more careful next time"

 

[The Catboy]

Can't wait for them to try again but possibly be a little more quiet about it

 

[Darksabre72]

Confusion my ass, they know what they are doing.

fr they know, and i for sure don't trust them at all

 

[tech3475]

I do wonder if anyone is still willing to trust this company? Other than those who can't change engines for some reason e.g. too late into development.

 

[yoyoyo69]

The damage is already done. Who in their right mind would ever feel comfortable investing so much and essentially making yourself reliant and dependent on such an untrustworthy organisation. They will try this again.


The CEO, infant the board even should be black listed from any future employment. How can you be this out of touch with any demographic, let alone sit in such a high position.

The damage control is disgusting also. Everybody else's fault, I genuinely believe they feel this way too. So egotistical.

 

[Esdeath]

Even if they fell on their knees and really apologized, who in their right mind would use Unity for their next project?

 

[VartioArtel]

I am going to repeat what I thought before last time this topic came up here:

The CEO thought 'I'm going to sell my stock, then I'll tank the value, and I'll get away with a fortune while everyone else suffers.'

What he didn't expect was people actually LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL'S STOCK TRANSFERS. So he's now making a backtrack to save his own ass.

 

[LightBeam]

Even if they fell on their knees and really apologized, who in their right mind would use Unity for their next project?

Exactly lol

What does Unity that is SO essential you can't use an alternative. Even if you don't like UE, there's Godot.

I guess only big studios that were already paying their fees would keep using it ?

 

[smf]

the company has apologised for "confusion" surrounding the plans and have stated that they will be "making changes to the policy" going forward.

They were confused, they thought they could get away with it.

 

[Dimensional]

I am going to repeat what I thought before last time this topic came up here:

The CEO thought 'I'm going to sell my stock, then I'll tank the value, and I'll get away with a fortune while everyone else suffers.'

What he didn't expect was people actually LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL'S STOCK TRANSFERS. So he's now making a backtrack to save his own ass.

He was CEO of EA during the years it was voted Worst Company in the World. What do you expect? His existence apparently is to destroy everything he touches.

 

[smf]

Exactly lol

What does Unity that is SO essential you can't use an alternative. Even if you don't like UE, there's Godot.

I guess only big studios that were already paying their fees would keep using it ?

The biggest issue is that it applied to games you had already released. Potentially even games you had sold the rights to, which you would now be liable for the per install fee (at least according to claims I read, I haven't looked that closely).

Switching is fine, but you need to learn the new engine and convert everything. Though if godot has a unity to godot importer that does most of the work, then it's not so bad.

Unity has to stem the flow, or it will be irrelevant.