Unity Technologies has temporarily closed two of its offices in response to what it describes as “credible threats” to employee safety. This decision follows the recent announcement of a highly contentious fee structure for the Unity Engine, a move that has sparked outrage within the game development community.
Reports about the office closures began circulating on social media, with Unity employees sharing concerns about “safety threats” directed at the company’s San Francisco and Austin, Texas, offices. Unity Product Manager Utsav Jamwal expressed his shock, noting, “Surprising how far people are willing to go in today’s age.”
Unity swiftly responded by closing the at-risk offices and collaborating closely with law enforcement to investigate the threats. A spokesperson for Unity stated, “We have taken immediate and proactive measures to ensure the safety of our employees, which is our top priority. We are closing our offices today and tomorrow that could be potential targets for this threat.”
Bloomberg reported that these closures resulted in the cancellation of a scheduled employee town hall meeting led by Unity’s CEO, John Riccitiello.
The cause of these threats appears to be Unity’s recent controversial pricing changes. The company announced a new fee structure that will take effect on January 1, 2024. Under this model, developers will be charged fees, sometimes as high as $0.20 per install, after certain revenue and install thresholds are reached. This change has incited widespread anger within the gaming industry, as Unity had long prided itself on being a royalty-free game engine option.
Many developers, including Mega Crit Games, the creators of “Slay the Spire,” have expressed their frustration, with some pledging to migrate their projects to alternative engines unless Unity reverses its decision and establishes safeguards in its terms of service.
Garry Newman, the developer behind “Garry’s Mod” and Unity-based “Rust,” also declared that “Rust 2 definitely won’t be a Unity game” due to the erosion of trust caused by the recent pricing changes.
These developments underscore the seismic impact that Unity’s decision has had on the industry, sparking not only outrage but also genuine concerns for the safety of its employees. Unity, a publicly traded company since 2020, has faced significant challenges in recent years including stock price fluctuations and layoffs.
