Unity 6, the latest iteration of the popular game development engine, officially launched on October 17, marking a significant moment for Unity Technologies as it strives to leave behind a turbulent year. After facing heavy criticism over its controversial Runtime Fee and enduring leadership changes, the company is hoping the release of Unity 6 will usher in a new era of stability and trust with its developer community.
In an interview with IGN, Matthew Bromberg, Unity’s newly appointed CEO and former COO of Zynga, highlighted the company’s renewed focus on rebuilding relationships with developers and addressing industry concerns. Bromberg said the launch of Unity 6 represents a “reset” for the company, emphasizing that Unity aims to be “a fundamentally different and better company.”
CEO Matthew Bromberg – Unite 2024, Unity’s annual conference
A Year of Challenges
Unity faced widespread backlash in 2023 after introducing a new fee structure, dubbed the Runtime Fee, that many developers criticized for being unfair and unsustainable. The controversy led to CEO John Riccitiello stepping down, massive layoffs, and a series of business cutbacks, including closing offices and terminating a partnership with Wētā FX. Despite generating $2.1 billion in revenue, the company reported a net loss of $826.3 million for the year.
The situation worsened in January 2024 when Unity laid off roughly 1,800 employees, representing 25% of its workforce. Some developers, like Mega Crit, the creators of Slay the Spire 2, even abandoned Unity for alternative engines like Godot in response to the changes.
New Leadership and Vision
Bromberg, who took over as CEO in May 2024, quickly scrapped the unpopular Runtime Fee and set about restoring Unity’s image. Unity 6 is the first major product launch under his leadership, with a promise of improved stability, performance, and long-term support for developers. The company claims that more than 70% of the top mobile games worldwide are built on Unity, and 1.5 billion devices run its engine.
“We want to develop and deliver products in a fundamentally different way,” Bromberg said. “It starts with us thinking differently and delivering in a different way.” Unity 6, he added, is “the most stable and best-performing version of Unity we’ve ever made.”
Embracing AI and the Future
The new Unity 6 engine is built to work seamlessly with AI tools that developers are already using. While Unity isn’t focusing heavily on generative AI in the same way other companies might, it is aiming to leverage AI to make game development faster and more efficient by simplifying complex tasks.
Bromberg expressed optimism about the future of the company and the industry, saying, “As long as people are making games, we’re going to be here helping them.” He reassured developers that Unity is in a strong financial position and will remain a foundational part of the gaming ecosystem for years to come.
A New Beginning
As Unity turns the page on a difficult chapter, the launch of Unity 6 represents a critical moment for the company. Bromberg’s leadership and the company’s commitment to its developer community could help restore the trust lost during the tumultuous past year. “People want to welcome us back, we just need to do our part,” he added.
With Unity 6 offering increased stability and performance, the company hopes to maintain its position as a leading game engine for both indie developers and major studios alike.
