Ununified

Where do I begin? I started developing Zombie Jack more than 10 years ago, it was a learning experience and went through many itterations. The game has taken shape into it’s final form and while unfinished, it has amazing potential.

On the 13th of August 2023, Unity, announced their new payment model, namely the Runtime Fees, which would theoretically charge the developer (me) up to 20 US cents (0.31 AUD) per install of my game. Which means, if you install Zombie Jack after purchasing it on your PC and your Steam Deck, I will be put of pocket 62 cents. On top of this, if you uninstall and re-install, I will be charged again. At least, this is how I and many others understand the current situation. We are all still waiting for more clarification from Unity.

Regardless, one thing has been made perfectly clear. At the end of the day, the product I produce does not belong to me. So even if they decide to retract some statements and walk back on their decision/s, we all know now that they can never be trusted.

What does that mean for Zombie Jack? At this stage, I’m not sure. I will probably continue development but with great hesitation until more is known. I will also be looking into alternative open source engines.

Here is a video I found on YouTube that pretty much sums up the recent events nicely.