Unity or Division? Navigating the New Runtime Fee Landscape
Its Implications for Developers and the Gaming Industry
Latest News: Unity has adjusted its Runtime Fee pricing strategy; Unity Personal will remain free.
He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
A week ago, Unity abruptly announced the imposition of a “Unity Runtime Fee”(pay-per-install) effective from January 1, 2024. This news sparked intense debate within the game development community, causing Unity’s stock price to plummet approximately 5% on the same day.
After a week of ongoing controversy, during which Unity provided multiple clarifications and additions to the new policy, the company ultimately had no choice but to issue an apology on Sep 18 via X ( formerly Twitter) and will be making changes to the policy.
