Unity adding a fee for devs for each time a game is installed, after certain thresholds

LCP@lemmy.world to Games@lemmy.world – 833 points –
Unity adding a fee for each time a game is installed
gamesindustry.biz
229

You are viewing a single comment

So... If the Unity's secret spyware and algorithm suddenly decides to count an update as a new installation, you suddenly get slapped with a huge bill. Especially if you release multiple small patches and your whole player base is counted multiple times.

According to the article only installs on new devices are counted.

Furthermore this only takes efrect after a certain threshold of revenue and installs.

Ah yes, because it's that difficult to spoof a new PC. You can run a tool similar to a kernel level anti cheat "ban bypass", run the game, and cost the developer up to 20 cents. With a relatively simple script, this can be done many times per hour on a single PC, easily racking up cost for the developers.

This is a bad idea, no matter how you implement it. If it goes through, it will be abused.

Not arguing with that. I totally agree with you. Just wanted to correct the comment.

The clarification on Xitter states deleting and reinstalling is 2 charges, the same as installing to 2 different devices. https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1701679721027633280?s=20

That's madness.

Imagine the player outcry being too just uninstall and reinstall games over she over to punish the devs.

Yeah as petty as some people are over games I can see a developer pissing them off and a bunch of players banding together to uninstall and reinstall games over and over. They could even script it. Bad idea all around.

This, so much of this.

WoW players doxxed the devs (lots of pizza was ordered) once, as they were pissed over real IDs being introduced to the account for the game.

Except that that is a back pedal on their part and their FAQ plainly says they actually have no way of tracking what is a new install versus a re-install; which is why they decided to count all installs to begin with.