Among Us: Temporary Delisting ‘On the Table’ as Developer Weighs Engine Swap Amid Unity Scandal

The recent announcement of Unity’s new runtime fee has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, prompting developers to re-evaluate their engine choices. Innersloth, the studio behind the wildly popular social deduction game Among Us, is among those considering drastic measures. This article explores the potential temporary delisting of the game as a serious possibility amid the controversy.

Innersloth Considers Pulling Among Us

The controversy surrounding Unity’s new policy could have a significant impact on the availability of popular games. Innersloth programmer Forest Willard revealed that removing Among Us from storefronts temporarily is under consideration. This drastic option is being explored while the team evaluates alternative solutions in response to the controversial fee structure.

• Temporary delisting is a viable option.
• Innersloth seeks solutions to Unity’s new fees.
• The developer wants to avoid paying Unity for “nothing.”

Engine Swap is a Strong Possibility

Willard expressed confidence in Innersloth’s ability to switch game engines. He questioned the logic of paying Unity while simultaneously migrating to a different platform. He voiced hope that Unity would retract the policy. However, he also suggested they should be concerned about the damage this decision is causing to developer trust.

• Innersloth has resources to change engines.
• Willard criticizes Unity’s new policy as unjustified.
• The new fees are a breach of trust.

Developer Distrust and Potential Fallout

Willard has been a vocal critic of Unity’s new installation fee. He predicts a negative reaction from platforms like Steam, Epic, Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft due to developers pulling their games. He further stated that Innersloth has always compensated Unity appropriately for their services. The new policy feels unfair and may force Innersloth’s hand, and many others.

• Willard predicts platform dissatisfaction with developers pulling games.
• Innersloth has a history of fair compensation to Unity.
• The new policy is considered unfair and could lead to severe action.

Unreal and Godot as Viable Alternatives

Willard pointed to Unreal Engine and Godot as potential replacements for developers seeking to migrate away from Unity. He also mentioned Luxe as a possibility, describing it as a “free, cross-platform, rapid development” engine. He emphasized the importance of exploring alternatives in light of Unity’s policy change.

• Unreal Engine and Godot are strong alternatives.
• Luxe is a “free, cross-platform” engine.
• Developers are encouraged to explore alternatives.

Among Us, Cult of the Lamb, and other games weigh their options

Innersloth joins Massive Monster, the creators of Cult of the Lamb, in expressing dissatisfaction. The developers of Cult of the Lamb have threatened to remove their game from sale on January 1st. This united front highlights the widespread discontent within the indie game development community.

• Innersloth and Massive Monster share concerns.
• Cult of the Lamb developers threaten game removal.
• Discontent is widespread in the indie community.

The Impact on Popular Unity Games

Among Us stands as a prime example of a successful game built with the Unity engine. However, numerous other popular titles, including Genshin Impact, Cuphead, Ori and the Blind Forest, Beat Saber, and Pokémon Go, also rely on Unity. These games could face similar challenges depending on their developers’ responses to the policy change.

• Among Us is a successful Unity game.
• Genshin Impact, Cuphead, and more could be affected.
• Many developers may reconsider their engine of choice.

Unity’s Attempt to Reassure and Developers’ Skepticism

Unity has attempted to soften the blow of the new policy by clarifying that charity bundles and Game Pass games will be exempt from the fee. These measures have done little to quell the outrage among developers, who remain concerned about how installs will be accurately measured and verified. Concerns about retroactive fees are also widespread.

• Unity offers partial concessions for charity bundles and Game Pass.
• Developers remain concerned about install measurements.
• Retroactive fees remain a source of worry.

Waiting for Unity’s Response

The gaming community and media outlets, including iGV, have reached out to Unity seeking comment on the developers’ threats to delist their games. The industry awaits a response that could potentially de-escalate the situation and restore trust. The future of many games, including Among Us, hangs in the balance.

• Media seeks Unity’s response to delisting threats.
• The industry awaits a statement to de-escalate the conflict.
• The fate of many games is uncertain.