In a major policy reversal, Unity has canceled its controversial Runtime Fee after extensive consultations with its community, customers, and partners. This decision comes following intense backlash to the fee, which was originally announced in September 2023 and was set to begin on January 1, 2024. The fee would have charged developers based on the number of times a game built using the Unity engine was installed.
Unity CEO Matt Bromberg made the announcement on Unity’s official blog, stating, “After deep consultation with our community, customers, and partners, we’ve made the decision to cancel the Runtime Fee for our games customers, effective immediately.” Bromberg emphasized that the decision came from listening to developers who felt that such a fee was not aligned with Unity’s mission to “democratize game development.”
Fee Scrapped, Price Increases Announced for Unity Pro and Enterprise
Unity’s initial plan had faced severe criticism from developers, leading the company to walk back parts of the fee before fully canceling it. Bromberg admitted that the fee created a conflict with Unity’s goal of fostering trust and partnership with its customers. He acknowledged, “We want to deliver value at a fair price in the right way so that you will continue to feel comfortable building your business over the long term with Unity as your partner.”
Instead of the Runtime Fee, Unity will be returning to its seat-based subscription model. While Unity Personal will remain free, with the revenue and funding ceiling doubled from $100,000 to $200,000, price hikes are coming for Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise. Unity Pro will increase by 8%, while Unity Enterprise will rise by 25%, effective from January 1, 2025.
Bromberg concluded by thanking the community for their trust and support, promising a better future for game development with Unity.
