Unity va facturer l’installation des jeux : la colère des développeurs indépendants

Unity, the popular game engine, recently announced a new business model that has sparked outrage among indie developers. Starting from January 1st next year, Unity will begin charging a monthly fee per new game install. While Unity claims that this change will only affect a small subset of current users, many developers who rely on the platform have expressed their concerns and frustrations.

The Impact on Indie Developers

Indie studios, such as AggroCrabGames, the creator of Another Crab’s Treasure, have voiced their worries about the new business model. They fear that they may no longer be able to justify using Unity for their future titles and might have to switch to a different game engine. This would not only lead to delays in their projects but also require them to acquire an entirely new skill set.

Even established developers like Innersloth, the team behind the hit game Among Us, expressed their concerns about the changes. They believe that the new fees would harm game studios of all budgets and sizes, potentially leading to delays in content and features that players actually want.

Unity’s Decision Criticized

The decision made by Unity has been met with widespread criticism and backlash. Many developers argue that this change prioritizes shareholders over the product’s actual users. They question the short-sightedness of these decisions and the impact it will have on the indie game development community.

Developers like Tomas Sala, creator of The Falconeer, expressed their frustration with Unity’s sudden change in their business model. He compared it to a form of blackmail, as developers who have already committed to using Unity for their projects now have limited options but to pay the new fees.

The Concerns of the Developer Community

Various developers have taken to social media to voice their concerns and frustration. Some have even called Unity’s move « an astonishing scumbag move. » They emphasize that a partner who can change revenue terms after a game has been released is not someone to collaborate with.

Additionally, developers like Brandon Sheffield, the director of Necrosoft Games, believe that Unity’s new fees will significantly impact game development. He cites examples of how the success of a game like Vampire Survivor would be hindered by the increased costs, making it unfeasible for developers to release games at lower prices.

Unity’s Backpedaling

After facing significant backlash, Unity has made some revisions to their initial plan. Developers will now only be charged after a user installs the game, and the download fees will be charged to subscription service owners like Microsoft instead of individual developers. While these changes address some concerns, the damage to Unity’s reputation among indie developers has already been done.

Source : www.eurogamer.net