Unity clarifies new fee plans amid developer backlash

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Unity has provided more details on its plan to charge developers for each game install after yesterday's announcement sparked outrage among developers.

Starting January 1, 2024, the company will charge developers using Unity Personal or Plus up to $0.20 for every install once a game passes $200,000 in revenue per year and 200,000 installs.

Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise accounts will be charged lower fees ($0.01 for every install above two million) and only after they pass the thresholds of $1 million in revenue per year and one million installs.

The announcement was met with anger on social media, with developers concerned this will impact those with deals to be on Game Pass, releasing demos, or including their title in charity bundles, among other things.

Another concern was that developers would be charged each time users delete and re-install a game, even suggesting there was the possibility that angry players could 'install-bomb' studios by deleting and re-installing frequently to increase these fees.

Speaking to Axios, Unity's senior vice president for its Create services Marc Whitten assured that only the initial installation would result in a fee.

However, an extra fee will be charged if a player installs a game on a second device; for example, downloading it Steam Deck after already installing it on PC.

"We're we're listening and we will continue to make sure that we deliver the best that we can"

Whitten added that game demos will not be charged for installation, unless that demo is part of a download that also includes the full game (for example, an early access title).

Unity will also provide a way for developers