Unity Closes Two Offices Today Following Death Threats

Bloomberg reports that two Unity Technologies Inc. offices closed today following a “credible death threat” amidst ongoing controversy regarding a new per-install fee implemented for developers using Unity. According to reports, the company has also cancelled a town hall that was planned. Bloomberg. 

Unity recently announced plans to charge developers utilizing the Unity game engine an installation fee. The per-install fees would apply every time that a player installs their games. Developers were quick to point out issues with this per-install fee, like players’ ability to install, delete, install, rinse, and repeat to cost developers money as a form of retaliation, amongst other things. Unity was publicly criticized by many developers who demanded that the changes be reverted. While Unity has addressed some of the concerns, developers are still wary of trusting the company moving forward, with some developers signaling they might move development to completely different engines in light of this fee. 

Unity’s CEO John Riccitiello planned to speak at a company town hall today, but cancelled the event and shut down its Austin, Texas office and San Francisco, California offices due to credible death threats Unity had received.

 [Source: Bloomberg]