610°

Unity Will Charge Sony, Microsoft, Apple, and Netflix Runtime Fees

Unity Technologies says it will charge Microsoft, Sony, Apple, and Netflix for Unity Engine games included in their subscription services.

Read Full Story >>
gamerevolution.com
IMissJimRyan643d ago

It's easy to blame Unity and being a cool gamer on internet by saying they are doing the wrong thing. But when Unity started its business model, they innovate allowing people to develop and publish their games for free, without paying for the engine only if the developer starts to making money. I know myself at least five people that started game development because Unity allow them to.

However, the game subscription model came and change all the business landscape for game publishing. Now, selling your game is one of the ways to monetize, not the only one anymore. Unity is not an engine focused on big triple A games. Most developers are small and indie ones. They are the ones most likely to sold their games to subscription services.

What Unity should do? Keep bleeding money on business model made for a landscape that doesn't exist anymore? Ask for a ludicrous price and sell their engine alienating small developers and students? Or ask for those giants selling games and getting a 30% cut or paying little money for games of their subscription?

For me the answer is easy. But to be cool with gamerz we always need to simplistic and made everything a game about good guys and bad guys.

victorMaje643d ago

I have a game made in Unity that I’m removing from the app store by Jan 1, because me paying a fee to Unity every time someone installs my game is just not sustainable.
I read there’s even the concern if someone repeatedly abuses that mechanic & installs-reinstalls the game causing a large amount to have to be paid to Unity. Apparently Unity has no answer to that, wow!

I have another game on the app store made in Godot & guess what, I gladly pay to Godot on Patreon because of all the good the engine has to offer, for free, & using the engine is a breath of fresh air, i.e: by the time I launch Godot try some changes, compile & run, Unity hasn’t launched yet!

Unity had the opportunity over the years to do good by developers but every decision they made was stupider than the previous one, it got them exodus after exodus. Look at the number of devs leaving & going for other game engines.

Do you have any idea how destabilizing this last decision is when it comes to an indie-dev that has a game they’re trying to launch or run.

What about Unreal Engine? Why don’t they implement such anti-dev practices? & guess what Unity is as heavy to launch as UE, but UE is way more professional & in terms of the available toolset & what you can do with it.

It’s almost like Unity are doing it on purpose so they can short their stock in some crazy insider trading scheme.

But I guess I’m one of the cool gamerz.

shadowknight203643d ago (Edited 643d ago )

Loco and Victor you both make valid points and are correct. Unity paying for runtime for specific streaming services should be something they can do, after all that's them charging big streaming services as the facts pointed out by Loco.

And Victor is correct in that they shouldn't charge per download if it's a free game anyway, or if the subscriber or purchaser is downloading the title for a second time after purchase. It should be if its free to play, then IAP percentage should go to Unity in some form. Or if it's pay to own, then the initial purchase should go to them as a percentage.

Sephiroushin643d ago (Edited 643d ago )

Why are you defending a guy that wanted to charge 1$ for reloading guns on a videogame (battlefield)... this guy greediness is just play evil at this point it doesnt even has to do with Unity bleeding, this CEO is just awful and should be thrown out, while youre correct on some things, charging for download is super evil, trolls who are mad for w/e reason at a dev using unity could just make a script for redownloading a game making a small dev go bankrupt.

theindiearmy643d ago

Maybe they should slightly increase the licensing prices of using the engine instead of tacking on a whole new fee that starts an entirely new pricing model. 🤷‍♂️

sadraiden643d ago (Edited 643d ago )

Literally the worst take on this issue I've seen yet. Take the boot out of your throat. You're advocating the destruction of indie devs/publishers because you think that Unity deserves to employ a more predatory business model.

MrBaskerville643d ago (Edited 643d ago )

@VictorMaje
But don't you have to have a million installs anf earnings over 200.000$ before the payments trigger?

Thought the issue was one of trust for the most part. That thet retroactively changed their tos without warning. And that they made an overly complicated system that makes it hard to predict your costs.

Palitera643d ago

@Mr

Yes, that’s one of the main concerns remaining.

Still, economically, they’re almost killing one of the biggest gaming markets (F2P), because the usual margin is not enough to put another 20 cents in (or a very expensive top version, for discounts). You might hate F2P, but the market is huge and important for the growth of companies and professionals.

Also their system to accurately counting installs and avoid counting pirate installs is a full black box, which some sources even claim do not really exist how they are saying it does. Recently they also admitted “two machines = two installs”, so yes, a script kid can generate thousands in fees very quickly for anyone.

In the first and second statements, they were still holding the even worse “reinstall” fee and the webgl fee, which they waived later.

But yes, the damage is done. Unity became open to investors in 2020 and went downhill from there. The trust is completely gone and most of us (dev here) think that, even if they backtrack even more, another backstab is due at any time.

Unity is seen now as a liability for companies.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 643d ago
Profchaos643d ago (Edited 643d ago )

Yeah when Unitys own ceo sells his shares prior to the announcement questions should be asked

https://gamerant.com/unity-...

This smells of insider trading to me but what do I know I'm just a cool gamer on the international apparently.

jznrpg643d ago

2000 shares out of 3.2 million doesn’t make much of case.

--Onilink--643d ago

By regulation, they have to sell shares every now and then (though its always possible they can time certain actions based on when their next batch sale is happening)

Based on the actual % of shares sold by him and some other people, this seems the more likely scenario and the sites reporting it were just looking for clicks by making a more sensationalist story. The CEO for example sold like 0.06% of his shares….

That said, everything else happening is pretty scummy from Unity and I would expect to see some major legal action from Nintendo, Sony, etc

jznrpg643d ago

@Onilink I agree what they are doing is pure shite but the insider trading thing is flimsy as hell.

babadivad643d ago

They are trying SO hard to be the next Flash.

crazyCoconuts644d ago

Ultimately this will all get absorbed by the price we pay as consumers in subscription fees.
Sucks for everyone but Unity.

Sciurus_vulgaris644d ago

Apple, Netflix, Sony and Microsoft are way larger than Unity. They could all likely drop Unity titles from their subscription services without heavy negative impacts.

BrainSyphoned643d ago

And can as easily pass the cost on to us without heavy negative impacts. People complain and stocks drop temporarily until the credit card recurring charge shows up and life goes on as before.

0odama643d ago

Maybe this is part of the reason why there was a price hike that Sony and Microsoft just did to their subscription services.

Zeref643d ago

Lol developers are ditching Unity for their future project. Unity needs developers more than developers need Unity.

crazyCoconuts643d ago

I wonder if the alternatives are any good

Pedantic91643d ago

@crazyCoconuts

My hope is that the devs would rather learn to adapt to a new engine than allow themselves to continue being screwed over by Unity. I do wish the devs affected by this land on their feet but at the same time i would like to see Unity crash and burn for doing this.

Palitera642d ago (Edited 642d ago )

@crazyCoconuts

They are good and will get much better now, and I think much much better things will come out of this in the close future. I'm betting on Godot, which is what the community is heavily leaning to.

The thing is... Unity was a jack of all trades. Unreal is worthless for mobile, for instance.

For small games, Godot, Cocos, Defold, Construct, GameMaker etc.
For medium games, Godot, CocosCreator.
For big games, mostly Unreal.

HollowIchigo25643d ago

even indie devs can drop Unity
Sony/MS/Apple are probably laughing at Unity

JackBNimble643d ago

This will crush indie dev's , which is why you're going to see developers abandon unity .

Becuzisaid642d ago

Ps plus gets hooked up by $20 out of nowhere with zero explanation or extra benefit to us. Coincidence?

crazyCoconuts642d ago (Edited 642d ago )

Based on my own spending patterns I'm guessing they were losing a lot of potential sales based on the overly generous/ too cheap plans they had. That was probably reason enough imo

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 642d ago
FalcorMononoke643d ago

What's to stop these companies from barring games developed in Unity to their platforms? If I were them, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Zeref643d ago (Edited 643d ago )

They wouldn't want to remove games like Genshin Impact they're likely going to sue first

dumahim643d ago

The cut of profit they make from Genshin would easily cover any install fees they're on the hook for. Many other games without that monetization built in, not so much.

643d ago
S2Killinit643d ago

Subscription prices were always going to go up. Just like all other subscriptions in history of subscriptions.

Show all comments (68)
120°

The director of the original Silent Hill: “I look forward to seeing bold interpretations.”

Keiichiro Toyama—the creator and original director of the 1999 Silent Hill—shared his personal thoughts on the recently announced remake by Konami, reflecting on what the project means to him after more than two decades:
“I felt something similar when the game was adapted into a movie. It deeply moved me to see the names of the characters and locations I had created come to life visually, even though I wasn’t directly involved. That wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support of the fans and the dedication of the developers who’ve kept the series alive.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how the remake evolves this time. With the advanced technology we now have, I’m sure I’ll be surprised by how the game is reimagined. Since the original was built for the first PlayStation, there will naturally be challenges—like the camera and controls—but I’m eager to see bold and creative solutions to those elements.”

Read Full Story >>
www-alhub-me.translate.goog
senorfartcushion15h ago

Haha Not only is bold and creatively not what the industry wants, it’s not what most people want.

They want to get scammed and pay twice for a thing they already own.

Nightcrawler8914h ago

Hope they use his vision in the game

Inverno14h ago

Was the SH2 remake even bold? Or was it more or less just a 1 to 1 over the shoulder remake?

Pedrof13h ago

I wouldn't hold my breath on "bold".

Show all comments (6)
260°

AMD CEO Shares Vision Behind Xbox Partnership and Next-Gen Chip Roadmap

AMD CEO Lisa Su talks about the Xbox AMD partnership, next-gen Ryzen + Radeon chips, and AI rendering tech coming to all Xbox devices.

Read Full Story >>
clouddosage.com
Obscure_Observer1d 12h ago

AMD is really building hype around their unique partnership with Microsoft to help and build an advanced and seamless Xbox ecosystem across all Xbox consoles and devices.

I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimized chips" though? Seems ambitious.

Next year´s Xbox Showcase already looks promising and exciting. Here´s hoping they deliver.

InUrFoxHole1d 6h ago

They had best show 3yrs in a row. Heading for another

VenomUK23h ago

Obscure_Observer said “I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimised chips" though? Seems ambitious.” To me, I interpret this to mean rather than having a couple of X/S products for launch and a handheld there is a longer term plan to release new products with higher specs at timed intervals. I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec.

Agent7513h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM18h ago

It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever.

Ganif16h ago

Correct.

"Sony's PlayStation 6 reportedly will feature an AMD semi-custom APU with a Zen 5 CPU and UDNA GPU, capable of 4K 120FPS and 8K 60FPS gaming. The console will include X3D cache and advanced AI upscaling technology."

https://www.tweaktown.com/n...

Obscure_Observer13h ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever."

I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released.

Notellin12h ago

You should have just lead this comment with the fact that you have zero understanding of technology in the consoles and instead have a Toms Hardware online forum level of education.

Agent7513h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer13h ago

@VenomUK

"I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec."

Very interesting theory. Still not sure how MS would actually make it work.

KwietStorm_BLM9h ago

"I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released."

How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 9h ago
Fishy Fingers1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

Some odd, deliberate wording, no branding, not 'Xbox consoles, Xbox handhelds' specifically, feels and sounds like they're building towards hardware that anyone can be used or licensed to/by themselves and other manufacturers.

Multiplatform software and hardware 'Xbox/AMD APU'.

Obscure_Observer1d 11h ago

I guess you missed Sarah Bond´s next generation Xbox announcement this week, were she clearly states:

"I´m thrilled to share that we´ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including, *our* next generation *Xbox consoles*."

But hey, I don´t think you´re entirely wrong, maybe MS will build their own Xbox consoles while licencing other manufactures to build and sell their own Xbox branded consoles. Who knows

BeHunted1d 6h ago (Edited 1d 6h ago )

I think you watched the wrong video. It's below the description, or you can watch it directly on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/kprpRvsOua...

PRIMORDUS1d 11h ago Show
HyperMoused1d 11h ago

Shares vision....we provide chips for money, this deal will sell many chips, we will make lots of money...good vision

Christopher1d 11h ago

The marketing behind this is so heavy that I worry about the actual outcome. Why are they just not showing us the product, why all this talking in market speak?

Lightning771d 6h ago

Probably because the next xbox isn't ready to release yet?

The marketing and rumors seem to be heavy out of no where. The rumor was a 27 release but it maybe it could be 26 new console launch instead.

Who knows.

Eonjay18h ago

There PR is alrways super heavy handed. No one is acutally buying an Xbox as is.
Also it is very early to be talking so much about a next gen console.

Obscure_Observer13h ago

There´s a lot of people interested on Xbox Next and its ability to run games from major stores like Steam.

We know that the PS6 is just around the corner as well, but so far, no news on what it might improve over the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

However, Sony already made public that their priority and actual focus is the PS6. So its not "very early" to talk about next gen when the very console manufactures are talking about it.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 13h ago
Show all comments (38)
340°

Sony PS5 Era Profits Soar Past $13 Billion, Outpacing All Prior PlayStation Generations

Sony’s PS5 era has generated over $13 billion in profits, surpassing the combined earnings of PS1–PS4, with $136 billion in sales.

Read Full Story >>
inspire2rise.com
lukasmain2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Their recent Playstation revenue is also more than Xbox and Switch combined, obviously in large part due to 3rd party sales.

Christopher2d ago

I mean, if Sony is keeping third parties happy, kind of feels like a winning method.

GamingExplained1011d 5h ago

I mean they have to, since they have 2 exclusives anyone cared about this generation, and those are now on PC. The rest is this creatively bankrupt string of remakes and remasters, taking advantage of the creativity of developers past efforts, and laying off teams creative side since all that work has been done already by previous teams.

By far the least creative generation ever.

lukasmain1d 3h ago

@ Gaming-NEW-Troll account

"those are now on PC"

In that case. Xbox is Playstation's competition. MS have ZERO exclusives. ZERO. Nothing. Nada. Not a single exclusive.

Playstation has Astrobot. Demon's Souls, Astrobot Playroom, Gran Turismo 7, still not going to PC. They got Death Stranding 2 coming out in 3 days, NOT ON PC. Ghost of Yotei, not on PC.

That is 6 real exclusives MORE than Microsoft. Microsoft's Xbox is Playstation's competition. So lets compare.

I mean you brought it up.

Or does being "creatively bankrupt" not count when you have certain console exclusives going to PC years after they were released? In that case Returnal. Ratchet And Clank. Spiderman. Miles Morales. Silent Hill 2. And the list goes on

IRetrouk1d 23h ago

Kinda always been that way if you look at previous gens, exclusives are important but they aint the main revenue generator.

Reaper22_1d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h ago )

.While that is impressive. Microsoft made 13 billion in one quarter. Making up facts doesn't make them true.

Mmmkay1d 22h ago

microsoft is not xbox. a bot should know that by now. you have been told this bs 1000 times on this site alone.

OlderGamer171d 19h ago

Yeah Microsoft but Xbox on the other hand.....

Aloymetal1d 18h ago

Your defense of Microsoft is only highlighting Lord Phil's and the lame MS mismanagement. Since you're talking about MS as a whole, imagine having trillions in the bank and still losing to ''tiny'' Sony PS and Ninty. It doesn't get any more lame than that.

Christopher1d 13h ago

If what Microsoft made as a whole was all that mattered, we would still have Windows Phones and Zunes. I would love to see Xbox' operating profits. Love to see it.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 13h ago
thorstein1d 20h ago

I prefer Playstation over Xbox when it comes to consoles but how does this news justify their layoffs?

Shane Kim1d 19h ago

But the execs brother. You got to think about them. How could they otherwise buy yet another mansion and yacht?

raWfodog1d 18h ago

People are generally paid for the work they are doing. Layoffs generally occur when there is no work for them to do (project cancelled, business slowing down, etc). I’ve been laid off from two jobs during my 40+ years of working so I know about these things. A company is not going to just keep paying people if there is no work for them to do, no matter how much profits they made.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 3h ago
MIDGETonSTILTS171d 23h ago

And this is why the game output for ps5 has been a tad slower…

1) they needed to be… games take longer to develop, and they’d burn out their teams trying to maintain the same pace as ps3.

2) they can afford to… games cost more than ever to push boundaries, so Sony had to figure out a way to match Xbox’s clever profit strategies in order to afford to continue to innovate and take risks.

lukasmain1d 18h ago

So much time was wasted on those Live Service shits. Glad they learned their lesson and have scaled that way back. Still haven't killed it, but I like it being in the background and not at the forefront

MIDGETonSTILTS171d 13h ago

Honestly, I love Helldivers 2 so much that I can forgive them for over investing in GaaS. At least they got one gem from the endeavor.

And I still dream of Factions releasing one day.

I don’t hate GaaS inherently, most are just implemented poorly.

Reaper22_1d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h ago )

@ s2killinit

Thats xbox which includes other services. The playstion division also includes other services as well. Its mostly playtion but not all playstation. What's up with all the double standards around here.

Chevalier1d 21h ago

Yeah double standards like some idiots who got to talk about unrelated profits as a talking point. Wish those damn parrots could stay on topic with game related profits.

Next thing these idiots will talk about is something unrelated like Nintendo made more off the Mario movie than all of Xbox studios TV/movie endeavors combined you know?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/...

1d 21h ago
Deathdeliverer1d 21h ago

@Chevalier

Mind you that’s only AFTER buying all those other companies adding them to the revenue. It was a LOT lower. This is Activision, Bethesda, and others COMBINED to get that number.

“The sales of windows professional on the other hand trounces god of war sales” 😂

Reaper22_1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

All you did was prove that you dont know what revenue is. Tencent is no.1 in profits. Buts that's ok because unlike Tencent and Microsoft, Sony isn't in it for the money, right.🤔

pwnmaster30001d 18h ago

That’s what Xbox fanboys do. They’ve been doing this since Xbox one.

They will use all of MS, one of the biggest company in the world and play it like every dollar they earn comes from Xbox just to one up PlayStation.
Is actually pretty sad.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 18h ago
Chevalier1d 20h ago

"Mind you that’s only AFTER buying all those other companies adding them to the revenue. It was a LOT lower. This is Activision, Bethesda, and others COMBINED to get that number."

Guys we're off topic here you know? Can someone bring us back on topic and tell us how much revenue Xbox studios does for movies and TV? Pretty sure we should also discuss how much Nintendo stands to make at Universal studios on Nintendo land and the rides should be a hot ticket this summer.

"Ouch! hahaha no wonder reaper wanna hide behind profits made by windows XD"

Yeah idiots with some sort of inferiority complex needs to get their win somewhere though. But wait shouldn't we get back on topic guys? Like seriously how much money do you think Fallout Season 2 will bring in?!

Reaper22_1d 16h ago

Nah, reaper's not hiding behind anything. I'm just pointing out some facts. At first the narrative was Microsoft isn't going to make the money back from the ABK deal to now their profits wouldn't be as high if they didn't get the deal. This very topic is part of the reason why the deal was secured. Sony's dishonesty and reluctance to tell the truth about how much money they're making and lying about how much this deal would hurt their business. That strategy failed. They're are making a lot of money. No doubt about it and its good for the industry but don't get butthurt when Microsoft post their profits and you guys see they are also making a lot of money as well.

CrashMania1d 16h ago

@reaper.

Microsoft don't reveal Xbox profits, sales numbers, or gamepass numbers, I wonder why that is?

You call Sony dishonest but at least they don't hide and obfuscate meaningful playstation numbers like MS do with Xbox.

IRetrouk1d 15h ago

Reaper stop lol, only one company hides that info and it ain't sony....

Chevalier1d 18h ago

"All you did was prove that you dont know what revenue is."

Nah all you did was confirm you're an idiot.

Reaper22_1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

You seem to be fluent in idiocy. Not everyone speaks it. So next time speak slowly and clearly so we all can understand. Getting emotional doesn't really make you smarter. Before you post a link with info make sure you know what it says.🫡

Chevalier1d 12h ago

"Nah, reaper's not hiding behind anything. I'm just pointing out some facts"

🤡 What facts? 🤣

Please share with everyone your idiocy

What does Xbox make in revenue and profit? What are their sales? How much money does Gamepass cost them? Oh right you got ZERO numbers to post.

"Before you post a link with info make sure you know what it says."

Says the idiot who can't even tell the difference between Microsoft and Xbox? Lmao. Seriously all you're showing everyone again is how much of an uninformed parroting idiot you are.

But go ahead and post your evidence! Oh right again ZERO from a ZERO. Absolutely 💯 hilarious to see you stumble like the idiot you are.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 12h ago
Npugz71d 21h ago

Only because of games prices otherwise it’s the worst generation in PlayStation history especially for games

Reaper22_1d 21h ago

Thats true. The article did mention game and prices were a reason. Its also shows their greed is no different than Microsoft. Laying off all those people but yet bragging about profits and still tried to stop ABK deal. What the hell!

MatrixxGT1d 21h ago

Closing studios, layoffs, leadership changes, PS plus increases, multiple game cancellations and delays, total flops like concord. Slowest release of first party games of any generation and they just shut down PS stars I guess because it was costing to much.
Yet they announce record profits…..the greed here is insane, MS and Nintendo too. All of them milking gamers and we just keep lapping it up like a blood hound for a meal.
Them tariffs are really hitting them hard I see.

Deathdeliverer1d 20h ago

Well a part of running a business is a tight grip on that P&L sheet. In project management. It’s a known fact that the farther into a project you go, the more costly the corrections. Having something reach the definition of done, the end of the road, and it’s hated is a monumental loss of money. As games are usually made iteratively it’s like how was this not caught and course corrected several times before this point. Sony is definitely known as trusting and allows teams to make the games they want to make. They “trust the process”. The caveat to that big budget and freedom is if it bombs, especially if it’s your first game, you’re outta there. They have shareholders/stakeholders to keep happy. Where as normally a done game like Concord would give ROI as it was out in the wild. The cost of the project is recouped and turned into profit or delivered whatever value they wanted. If the game is now NOT coming out, how do they get that money back and stay profitable? By not paying wages for that team over a course of time that would have still been on payroll working on the next potential bomb, DLC for a dead game, and essentially costing more money.
It sadly isn’t greed, it’s business. They release these great profits because 1) it’s enticing for more stakeholders to invest, and 2) Despite failures they are still balancing the books and turning record setting profits.
How many live service games died at various stages of development? They are still this profitable? Imagine if the games came out and were hits to add onto the profits?

Christopher1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

So, you're saying that over $10B of this is from $10 to $20 software price increases? Zero to do with increased market reach? Massive MTX from third-party games?

Vithar1d 21h ago

where are the "Sony is in trouble" sayers? LOL

Chevalier1d 20h ago

They're talking about Microsoft quarterly profits like any true gamer would be doing.

Aloymetal1d 18h ago

Oh, that's coming, it's a mandatory thing just wait for next gen and you'll see infinite articles from the shills and the green fanbase saying ''tHiS GeN WiL Be dIfFerEnT''

stonecold31d 10h ago

over twitter xbox fanboy you tube are saying saying sony is broke cant afford warner bros.

Show all comments (72)