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Unity will start charging developers each time their game is installed (www.engadget.com)
submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by ZeroCool@feddit.ch to c/pcgaming@lemmy.ca
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Unity announced a new fee structure today, and developers are none too happy. “We are introducing a Unity Runtime Fee that is based upon each time a qualifying game is downloaded by an end user,” the company wrote in a blog post announcing the change. “We chose this because each time a game is downloaded, the Unity Runtime is also installed.” The new per-install fees are set to kick in on January 1, 2024.

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[-] hal_5700X@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago

RIP Unity. First they partnered with Ironsource. Who are the people behind InstallCore it's a wrapper for bundling software installations. It tricks people into installing enough browser toolbars and other bloat to hurt their PCs. Windows Defender and MalwareBytes blocks it. Now Unity does this shit.

[-] ono@lemmy.ca 28 points 9 months ago

I look forward to the incoming crop of games made with Godot.

[-] pe1uca@lemmy.pe1uca.dev 25 points 9 months ago

if a player deletes and reinstalls a game, that counts for two installs and two charges. Ditto for players installing a single game on two devices.

Wow, I'm without words, I can only imagine the deals to be ended on games in places like Netflix or the Google play pass

[-] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 12 points 9 months ago

Seems weird with how friendly Unreal and Godots deals are

You’d think they would be competing with that

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

A few cents of 0 downloads is $0 lolololololol

Also, I don’t expect a unilateral and very one-sided payment and service contract modification is going to stand up in court.

[-] LostWon@lemmy.ca 9 points 9 months ago

WTF. Luckily it isn't an issue for me right now, but I guess I won't be using Unity in future like I once thought I might.

I couldn't find it in the article, but I assume this is only going forward and not somehow retroactive? Lots of amazing indie titles I've played run on Unity.

[-] Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 months ago

It is just going forward starting Jan 1 I think

[-] LostWon@lemmy.ca 0 points 9 months ago

If so, at least anyone whose project was completed beforehand can be grandfathered out of the new arrangement.

That really sucks for new projects, though. A few months is not going to be enough time for a lot of projects out there.

[-] dandi8@kbin.social 2 points 9 months ago

AFAIK this applies retroactively.

[-] LostWon@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 months ago

Unfortunately, I was just coming back to comment this myself, and link this: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/09/unity-attempt-to-clarify-new-install-fees-as-developers-revolt/

[-] xtremeownage@lemmyonline.com 7 points 9 months ago

Well, nice knowing you unity....

[-] conorab@lemmy.conorab.com 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I’m surprised it’s not per-seat or per-user. Not like the dev is getting more money if the user re-installs the game. Also not a fan of it being monthly. I get why you would charge twice if the user installs it twice since you may not be able to track concurrent installs without DRM, but that should only apply if you choose a per-install licence. Per-install also opens you up to malicious users installing/uninstalling to make you pay.

There should be a per-seat/per-user perpetual price if the dev never updates the Unity engine itself. I get charging per-seat/per-user monthly if they devs are pulling in new versions, but that should stop if you cease updating.

Came here after a friend linked me to this: https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1701679721027633280

[-] ZC3rr0r@lemmy.ca 3 points 9 months ago

Alternative title: Unity about to get sued into settlement or bankruptcy due to legal fees by Nintendo, Sony, and a bunch of others over unilaterally announced installation fee.

[-] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 months ago

Next will be subscription service to end userto run unity games

this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2023
90 points (97.9% liked)

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