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Unity introduces new fees for game devs based on revenue and game installs https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/09/unity-introduces-new-fees-for-game-devs-based-on-revenue-and-game-installs/

#Unity #GameDev

Unity introduces new fees for game devs based on revenue and game installs

Unity Technologies have announced an overhaul to their fees for game developers, which now includes tracking game installs and revenue.
Liam Dawe (GamingOnLinux)
#gamedev #Unity
Unknown parent

Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
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@fakeplastictree yep, Unity keep fucking up
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Andrea Grandi 🦕
Andrea Grandi 🦕
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they have actually lowered the fees (or increased the threshold).

I registered for a Unity Personal account a few days ago and it said "you need to make 100k$ or less per year". Now it is 200k$ so people can make double money than before without paying a license fee.

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Chaos Spectre
Chaos Spectre
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literally can't think of a reason to use Unity over Godot or Unreal at any skill level really. Especially being the garbage collection stutter on Unity is still an issue games have to this day.
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
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The more I think on it, the worse it sounds. How exactly are they tracking installs? We need it to be clear on what they're tracking, otherwise that's a big privacy red flag.

And how accurate will it be? What about pirated installs? Charity keys? Etc. So many bits unclear.

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

HeroOfDermwood
HeroOfDermwood
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What about families who install a single purchase on multiple computers and consoles? And yes, what are they tracking to identify a unique install?
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Vildravn | Working on ???
Vildravn | Working on ???
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Obviously this can be different for Unity, but aren't most of revenue thresholds etc. usually self-reported?
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Vildravn | Working on ???
Vildravn | Working on ???
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Maybe not and it will definitely make me suspicious of any Unity game going forward.
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
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A comment on the article brings up an interesting point: what about GOG offline installers? Add to that Epic Store freebies? The list of uncertain ways this could be a problem just keep appearing.
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
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Oh and hey, it's a flat-fee.

So...if you're already over the thresholds and you run a sale, you're already getting less - and then you're paying Unity a flat-fee for each of those new players!

Lmao. Unity RN:

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

GothPanda
GothPanda
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This *sounds* like an idea that an exec had and just ran through, and no one got a chance to actually think about it before doing it...
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Benjamin
Benjamin
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What about me installing it on my PC and my Deck? Will it cost twice?
in reply to Benjamin

Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮
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@ben they must be sending some identifier I assume, but like what exactly?
@Benjamin
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

doragasu
doragasu
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@ben And what about me installing it on the Deck, formatting the Deck and installing it again?
@Benjamin
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Von Xylofon
Von Xylofon
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I don't see this working without the installer phoning home. New games will need to be online-once or always online. Either way, unless this is reversed, I think this is the end of Unity as a platform for low-to-moderately successful indies as we know it.
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

Marta Threadbare
Marta Threadbare
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Since I'm usually low on space in my internal hdd's I uninstall and reinstall some of my favorite games a lot.. will that actually cost money to the devs now?
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

AMS
AMS
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Figure out the unity tracking, make a patcher that sends epic-bliz-micro-vision account keys for all your indie games.
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

D.C.Wulf
D.C.Wulf
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That has been my question. I doubt publishers and stores are going to want to track this information, so that leaves Unity phoning home...

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