Unity (game engine)#Unity-chan

{{Video game timeline

| 2005 = Unity 1.0

| 2007 = Unity 2.0

| 2010 = Unity 3.0

| 2012 = Unity 4.0

| 2015 = Unity 5

| 2017 = Unity 2017

| 2018 = Unity 2018

| 2019 = Unity 2019

| 2020 = Unity 2020

| 2021 = Unity 2021

| 2022 = Unity 2022

| 2023 = Unity 2023

| 2024 = Unity 6

}}

The Unity game engine was launched in 2005, aiming to "democratize" game development by making it accessible to more developers.{{cite news |title=Former EA CEO John Riccitiello is now head of Unity |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/10/22/7039683/electronic-arts-john-riccitiello-unity-ceo |work=Polygon |date=October 22, 2014 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205103251/https://www.polygon.com/2014/10/22/7039683/electronic-arts-john-riccitiello-unity-ceo |archive-date=December 5, 2018 |url-status=live }} It was shown at Worldwide Developers Conference 2005 by Scott Forstall on Mac OS X.{{Cite web |date=2010-06-07 |title=5 Years Later, Unity Used by 170,000 Developers and Available on 9 Different Devices |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/06/07/unity-3d-turns-5/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219092001/https://techcrunch.com/2010/06/07/unity-3d-turns-5/ |url-status=live }} The next year, Unity was named runner-up in the Best Use of Mac OS X Graphics category in Apple Inc.'s Apple Design Awards.{{cite web |title=Apple Design Award winners announced |date=August 9, 2006 |first=Jeff |last=Smykill |publisher=ArsTechnica |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2006/08/4937/ |access-date=January 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119065320/http://arstechnica.com/apple/2006/08/4937/ |archive-date=January 19, 2015 |url-status=live }} Unity was initially released for Mac OS X, later adding support for Microsoft Windows and Web browsers.{{cite news |title=How Unity3D Became a Game-Development Beast |last1=Brodkin |first1=Jon |url=https://insights.dice.com/2013/06/03/how-unity3d-become-a-game-development-beast/ |work=Dice Insights |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019160750/https://insights.dice.com/2013/06/03/how-unity3d-become-a-game-development-beast/ |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Unity 2.0 launched in 2007 with approximately 50 new features. DirectX support was added in 2.0.{{cite news |title=Unity 2.0 game engine now available |last1=Cohen |first1=Peter |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1060484/unity.html |work=PCWorld |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320210247/https://www.macworld.com/article/1060484/unity.html |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} The release included an optimized terrain engine for detailed 3D environments, real-time dynamic shadows, directional lights and spotlights, video playback, and other features. The release also added a version control system to allow developers to collaborate more easily. It included a Networking Layer for developers to create multiplayer games based on the User Datagram Protocol, offering Network Address Translation, State Synchronization, and Remote Procedure Calls. When Apple launched its App Store in 2008, Unity added support for the iPhone. Unity 2.5, released in March 2009, added editor support for Windows.{{cite web | url=https://blog.unity.com/technology/unity-25-for-mac-and-windows-now-available | title=Unity Blog }}

Unity 3.0 launched in September 2010 with features expanding the engine's graphics features for desktop computers and video game consoles.{{cite news |title=Unity 3 brings very expensive dev tools at a very low price |last1=Girard |first1=Dave |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2010/09/unity-3-brings-very-expensive-dev-tools-at-a-very-low-price/?comments=1 |work=Ars Technica |date=September 27, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224085322/http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2010/09/unity-3-brings-very-expensive-dev-tools-at-a-very-low-price/?comments=1 |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |url-status=live }} In addition to Android support, Unity 3 featured integration of Illuminate Labs' Beast Lightmap tool, deferred rendering, a built-in tree editor, native font rendering, automatic UV mapping, and audio filters, among other features. In 2012, VentureBeat wrote, "Few companies have contributed as much to the flowing of independently produced games as Unity Technologies. [...] More than 1.3 million developers are using its tools to create gee-whiz graphics in their iOS, Android, console, PC, and web-based games. Unity wants to be the engine for multi-platform games, period."{{Cite interview |title=Game developers, start your Unity 3D engines |first=David |last=Helgason |date=November 2, 2012 |interviewer=Dean Takahashi |publisher=VentureBeat |work=GamesBeat |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/11/02/game-developers-start-your-unity-3d-engines-interview/ |access-date=July 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205526/http://venturebeat.com/2012/11/02/game-developers-start-your-unity-3d-engines-interview/ |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=live }} A May 2012 survey by Game Developer magazine indicated Unity as its top game engine for mobile platforms.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/mobile-game-developer-survey-leans-heavily-toward-ios-unity |title=Mobile game developer survey leans heavily toward iOS, Unity |publisher=Game Developer |date=May 24, 2012 |access-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703233046/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/169846/Mobile_game_developer_survey_leans_heavily_toward_iOS_Unity.php |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |url-status=live }}

In November 2012, Unity Technologies delivered Unity 4.0.{{cite news |title=Unity 4.0 available for download today with DX 11 support and Linux preview |last1=Tach |first1=Dave |url=https://www.polygon.com/2012/11/14/3645122/unity-4-0-available-download |work=Polygon |date=November 14, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320210245/https://www.polygon.com/2012/11/14/3645122/unity-4-0-available-download |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} This version added DirectX 11 and Adobe Flash support, new animation tools called Mecanim, and access to the Linux preview.

Facebook integrated a software development kit for games using the Unity game engine in 2013.{{cite news |title=How Facebook Integrated With The Unity Game Engine |last1=Cohen |first1=David |url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/unity-sdk-out-of-beta/ |work=Adweek |date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212211302/https://www.adweek.com/digital/unity-sdk-out-of-beta/ |archive-date=December 12, 2018 |url-status=live }} This featured tools that allowed tracking advertising campaigns and deep linking, where users were directly linked from social media posts to specific portions within games, and easy in-game-image sharing. In 2016, Facebook developed a new PC gaming platform with Unity.{{cite news |title=Facebook Developing New PC Gaming Platform; Teams Up With Unity Technologies |last1=Cohen |first1=David |url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/facebook-developing-pc-gaming-platform-unity-technologies/ |work=Adweek |date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211184313/https://www.adweek.com/digital/facebook-developing-pc-gaming-platform-unity-technologies/ |archive-date=December 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} Unity provided support for Facebook's gaming platforms, and Unity developers could more quickly export and publish games to Facebook.

The Verge said of 2015's Unity 5 release: "Unity started with the goal of making game development universally accessible. [...] Unity 5 is a long-awaited step towards that future."{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=March 3, 2015 |title=Unity officially releases its new game engine: Unity 5 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/3/8142099/unity-5-engine-release |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208011922/http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/3/8142099/unity-5-engine-release |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=November 26, 2015 |website=The Verge}} With Unity 5, the engine improved its lighting and audio.{{cite news |title=Unity 5 Announced With Better Lighting, Better Audio, And "Early" Support For Plugin-Free Browser Games |last1=Kumparak |first1=Greg |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/03/18/unity-5-announced-with-early-support-for-plugin-free-browser-games/ |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219220925/https://techcrunch.com/2014/03/18/unity-5-announced-with-early-support-for-plugin-free-browser-games/ |archive-date=February 19, 2019 |url-status=live }} Through WebGL, Unity developers could add their games to compatible Web browsers with no plug-ins required for players. Unity 5.0 offered real-time global illumination, light mapping previews, Unity Cloud, a new audio system, and the Nvidia PhysX 3.3 physics engine. The fifth generation of the Unity engine also introduced Cinematic Image Effects to help make Unity games look less generic.{{cite news |title=How new graphics effects can make Unity Engine games look less generic |last1=Orland |first1=Kyle |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/03/how-new-graphics-effects-can-make-unity-engine-games-look-less-generic/ |work=Ars Technica |date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320210242/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/03/how-new-graphics-effects-can-make-unity-engine-games-look-less-generic/ |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} Unity began offering an experimental and unsupported Linux editor build in August 2015.{{cite web | url=http://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/08/26/unity-comes-to-linux-experimental-build-now-available/ | title=Unity Blog | access-date=August 27, 2015 | archive-date=September 17, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917163145/https://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/08/26/unity-comes-to-linux-experimental-build-now-available/ | url-status=live }} Unity 5.6 added new lighting and particle effects, updated the engine's overall performance, and added native support for Nintendo Switch, Facebook Gameroom, Google Daydream, and the Vulkan graphics API.{{cite news |title=Unity 5.6 launches with support for Vulkan graphics, Nintendo Switch, and more |last1=Grubb |first1=Jeff |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/03/31/unity-5-6-launches-with-support-for-vulkan-graphics-nintendo-switch-and-more/ |work=VentureBeat |date=March 31, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320210243/https://venturebeat.com/2017/03/31/unity-5-6-launches-with-support-for-vulkan-graphics-nintendo-switch-and-more/ |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} It introduced a 4K video player capable of running 360-degree videos for virtual reality.

However, some gamers criticized Unity's accessibility due to the high volume of quickly produced games published on the Steam distribution platform by inexperienced developers.{{cite web |last=Dale |first=Laura Kate |date=July 6, 2015 |title=Unity – does indie gaming's biggest engine have an image problem? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/06/unity-indie-gamings-biggest-engine-john-riccitiello/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814111249/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/06/unity-indie-gamings-biggest-engine-john-riccitiello |archive-date=August 14, 2015 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |work=The Guardian}} Former CEO John Riccitiello said in an interview that he believes this to be a side-effect of Unity's success in democratizing game development: "If I had my way, I'd like to see 50 million people using Unity – although I don't think we're going to get there any time soon. I'd like to see high school and college kids using it, people outside the core industry. I think it's sad that most people are consumers of technology and not creators. The world's a better place when people know how to create, not just consume, and that's what we're trying to promote."{{cite web |date=July 7, 2015 |title=The chaos of democracy |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/the-chaos-of-democracy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017202809/http://www.develop-online.net/analysis/the-chaos-of-democracy/0208628 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |website=MCVUK |publisher=Develop Online}}

In December 2016, Unity Technologies announced that they would change the version numbering system for Unity from sequence-based identifiers to year of release to align the versioning with their more frequent release cadence; Unity 5.6 was therefore followed by Unity 2017.{{cite web |last1=Batchelor |first1=James |title=Unity dropping major updates in favour of date-based model |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-12-14-unity-dropping-major-updates-in-favour-of-date-based-model |website=GamesIndustry.biz |date=December 14, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2017 |ref=jamesbatchelor2017unityversions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319022436/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-12-14-unity-dropping-major-updates-in-favour-of-date-based-model |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |url-status=live }} Unity 2017 tools featured a real-time graphics rendering engine, color grading and worldbuilding, live operations analytics, and performance reporting.{{cite news |title=Unity Technologies – The World's Leading Game Engine |url=https://www.nanalyze.com/2017/10/unity-technologies-leading-game-engine/ |work=Nanalyze |date=October 18, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212101854/https://www.nanalyze.com/2017/10/unity-technologies-leading-game-engine/ |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |url-status=live }} Unity 2017.2 underscored Unity Technologies' plans beyond video games. This included new tools such as Timeline, which allowed developers to drag-and-drop animations into games, and Cinemachine, a smart camera system within games. Unity 2017.2 also integrated Autodesk's 3DS Max and Maya tools into the Unity engine for a streamlined asset-sharing in-game iteration process.{{cite news |title=Unity 2017.2 brings Autodesk integration into the fold |last1=McAloon |first1=Alissa |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/unity-2017-2-brings-autodesk-integration-into-the-fold |work=Game Developer |date=October 4, 2017 |access-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320210245/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/307050/Unity_20172_brings_Autodesk_integration_into_the_fold.php |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}

Unity 2018 featured the Scriptable Render Pipeline for developers to create high-end graphics.{{cite news |last1=Batchelor |first1=James |date=March 20, 2018 |title=Unity 2018 detailed in GDC keynote |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-03-20-unity-2018-detailed-in-gdc-keynote |url-status=live |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320210246/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-03-20-unity-2018-detailed-in-gdc-keynote |archive-date=March 20, 2019}} This included the High-Definition Rendering Pipeline for console and PC experiences, and the Lightweight Rendering Pipeline (later renamed the Universal Render Pipeline{{cite web | url=https://forum.unity.com/threads/lightweight-render-pipeline-is-evolving.707720/ | title=Official - Lightweight Render Pipeline is Evolving! | date=July 9, 2019 | access-date=March 7, 2023 | archive-date=March 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307085912/https://forum.unity.com/threads/lightweight-render-pipeline-is-evolving.707720/ | url-status=live }}) for mobile, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Unity 2018 also included machine learning tools, such as Imitation Learning, whereby games learn from real player habits, support for Magic Leap, and templates for new developers.

Unity Hub,{{Cite web |title=Unity Hub – Manage Editor versions and collaborate with other creators {{!}} [site:name] |url=https://unity.com/unity-hub |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Unity |language=en |archive-date=March 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312095457/https://unity.com/unity-hub |url-status=live }}{{primary source inline|date=March 2025}} introduced in 2018, streamlines project and engine version management.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-03 |title=What is the Unity Hub? |url=https://support.unity.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061586571-What-is-the-Unity-Hub |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Unity Support Help Center |language=en-US |archive-date=March 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312134338/https://support.unity.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061586571-What-is-the-Unity-Hub |url-status=live }}{{primary source inline|date=March 2025}} It replaces manual version switching, centralizing installations, project creation, and licenses.

The C# source code of Unity was published under a "reference-only" license in March 2018, which prohibits reuse and modification.{{cite web |last1=Chapple |first1=Craig |title=Unity publishes reference-only C# source code on GitHub |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/67809/unity-publishes-reference-only-c-source-code-on-github/ |website=pocketgamer.biz |date=26 March 2018 |access-date=May 20, 2021 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220616110145/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/67809/unity-publishes-reference-only-c-source-code-on-github/ |url-status=live }} As of 2020, software built with Unity's game engine was running on more than 1.5 billion devices. According to Unity, apps made with their game engine account for 50 percent of all mobile games and are downloaded more than 3 billion times per month, and approximately 15,000 new projects are started daily with its software.{{cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=August 24, 2020|title=Unity files for IPO, reveals $163 million loss for 2019 and 1.5 million monthly users|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/08/24/unity-files-for-ipo-reveals-163-million-loss-for-2019-and-1-5-million-monthly-users/|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=VentureBeat|publisher=|quote=|archive-date=August 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827083042/https://venturebeat.com/2020/08/24/unity-files-for-ipo-reveals-163-million-loss-for-2019-and-1-5-million-monthly-users/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=De Vynck|first1=Gerrit|date=May 7, 2020|title=Unity Technologies Aims to Bring Video Game Tools Into the Real World|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-07/unity-technologies-aims-to-bring-video-game-tools-into-the-real-world|work=Bloomberg|accessdate=March 11, 2021|archive-date=March 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306132055/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-07/unity-technologies-aims-to-bring-video-game-tools-into-the-real-world|url-status=live}} The Financial Times reported that Unity's engine "powers some of the world's most lucrative mobile games", such as Pokémon Go and Activision's Call of Duty Mobile.{{cite web|last1=Bradshaw|first1=Tim|last2=Kruppa|first2=Miles|date=August 11, 2020|title=Epic and Unity rev their engines for the next era of entertainment|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f77b7979-c943-4b9d-b7b7-7953b63bea7e|work=Financial Times|accessdate=March 16, 2020|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200812195345/https://www.ft.com/content/f77b7979-c943-4b9d-b7b7-7953b63bea7e|url-status=live}}

In June 2020, Unity introduced the Mixed and Augmented Reality Studio (MARS), which provides developers with additional functionality for the rules-based generation of augmented reality (AR) applications.{{cite news |title=Unity MARS Augmented and Mixed Reality authoring studio now available |last1=Sprigg |first1=Sam |url=https://www.auganix.org/unity-mars-augmented-and-mixed-reality-authoring-studio-now-available/ |work=auganix.org |date=June 8, 2018 |access-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926190900/https://www.auganix.org/unity-mars-augmented-and-mixed-reality-authoring-studio-now-available/ |url-status=live}} Unity released Unity Forma, an automotive and retail solution tool, on December 9, 2020.{{cite web |date=December 9, 2020 |title=Unity Introduces Unity Forma - An Automotive and Retail Solution Tool for the Creation and Delivery of Custom Real-Time 3D Marketing Content |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201209005406/en/Unity-Introduces-Unity-Forma---An-Automotive-and-Retail-Solution-Tool-for-the-Creation-and-Delivery-of-Custom-Real-Time-3D-Marketing-Content |access-date=December 15, 2020 |website=Business Wire |language=en |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209201243/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201209005406/en/Unity-Introduces-Unity-Forma---An-Automotive-and-Retail-Solution-Tool-for-the-Creation-and-Delivery-of-Custom-Real-Time-3D-Marketing-Content |url-status=live}} In June 2020, Unity announced that Unity Editor will support Apple Silicon. The first beta version shipped later that year.{{Cite web |title=Unity coming to Apple silicon |url=https://blog.unity.com/technology/unity-coming-to-apple-silicon |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Unity Blog |language=en |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211145021/https://blog.unity.com/technology/unity-coming-to-apple-silicon |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Official - Now Available - Native Apple Silicon Editor Preview Builds |url=https://forum.unity.com/threads/now-available-native-apple-silicon-editor-preview-builds.1122712/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Unity Forum |date=June 8, 2021 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211145023/https://forum.unity.com/threads/now-available-native-apple-silicon-editor-preview-builds.1122712/ |url-status=live }}

Unity 2021 brought multiple new features such as Bolt, Unity's Visual Scripting system, a new multiplayer library to support multiplayer games, improved Il2cpp runtime performance, and Volumetric clouds for the High Definition Render pipeline.{{Cite web |last1=Yves Donzallaz |first1=Pierre |last2=Benyoub |first2=Anis |date=2021-11-05 |title=Experience true Volumetric Clouds with HDRP & Unity 2021.2 |url=https://blog.unity.com/technology/experience-true-volumetric-clouds-with-hdrp-unity-20212 |access-date=2022-02-18 |website=Unity Blog |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218091702/https://blog.unity.com/technology/experience-true-volumetric-clouds-with-hdrp-unity-20212 |url-status=live }} Shadow caching and Screen Space Global Illumination for HDRP.{{Cite web|title=High Definition Render Pipeline - Unity Platform - Rendering & Visual Effects|url=https://portal.productboard.com/unity/1-unity-platform-rendering-visual-effects/tabs/18-high-definition-render-pipeline|access-date=2022-02-18|website=portal.productboard.com|language=en|archive-date=February 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218091659/https://portal.productboard.com/unity/1-unity-platform-rendering-visual-effects/tabs/18-high-definition-render-pipeline|url-status=live}} For the Universal Render Pipeline, it added new features such as point light shadows, Deferred renderer, and general core engine improvements and fixes.{{Cite web |last1=Hauwert |first1=Ralph |last2=Bowell |first2=Andrew |date=2020-08-13 |title=The road to 2021 |url=https://blog.unity.com/technology/the-road-to-2021 |access-date=2022-02-18 |website=Unity Blog |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218091701/https://blog.unity.com/technology/the-road-to-2021 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Josh |date=2022-02-17 |title=Feature highlight: IL2CPP runtime performance improvements in Unity 2021.2 |url=https://blog.unity.com/technology/feature-highlight-il2cpp-runtime-performance-improvements-in-unity-20212 |access-date=2022-02-18 |website=Unity Blog |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218091705/https://blog.unity.com/technology/feature-highlight-il2cpp-runtime-performance-improvements-in-unity-20212 |url-status=live }} Full Apple Silicon support was also added in Unity 2021.2. Unity Hub support for Apple Silicon editors arrived in version 3.0 in January 2022.{{Cite web |title=Official - Apple silicon support through the Unity Hub |url=https://forum.unity.com/threads/apple-silicon-support-through-the-unity-hub.1222971/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Unity Forum |date=January 10, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211145015/https://forum.unity.com/threads/apple-silicon-support-through-the-unity-hub.1222971/ |url-status=live }}

Changes to Unity 2022 were intended to improve productivity by reducing the time required to enter play mode and import files and implementing visual search queries and multi-selection in the package manager.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=26 November 2022 |title=Unity 2022.1 Tech Stream |url=https://unity.com/releases/2022.1#enhanced-productivity |url-status=live |access-date=26 November 2022 |website=Unity.com |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209124926/https://unity.com/releases/2022.1#enhanced-productivity }} For 2D projects, changes focused on accelerating core software, import, animation, and physics. Sprite atlasing was revised. Support for PSD extension files and layer management were added to the 2D PSD Importer, and Delaunay tessellation for 2D physics was added.

On November 16, 2023, Unity announced that the next version of the engine would be called Unity 6, reverting to the previous version numbering convention. Unity 6 launched on October 17, 2024, with new features including new generative AI tools, called Unity Muse and Unity Sentis.{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Bryant |date=16 November 2023 |title=The next version of Unity will be called Unity 6 |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-next-version-of-unity-will-be-called-unity-6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116095642/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-next-version-of-unity-will-be-called-unity-6 |archive-date=16 November 2023 |access-date=17 November 2023 |website=Game Developer}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/we-want-to-be-a-fundamentally-different-and-better-company-says-new-unity-boss-as-unity-6-launches | title='We Want to be a Fundamentally Different and Better Company,' Says New Unity Boss as Unity 6 Launches | date=October 17, 2024 }} The release introduced new workflows for creating online multiplayer content, performance enhancements for web projects, and improved graphic rendering.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-17 |title=Unity mounts a comeback with launch of Unity 6 game engine |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/unity-mounts-a-comeback-with-launch-of-unity-6-game-engine-205332034.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}

Unity also announced plans for a revised licensing agreement, including a runtime fee (see #Runtime fee reception).{{cite web |last1=Griffiths |first1=Daniel |title=Unity CEO Jim Whitehurst tackles the Runtime Fee farrago one last time |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/82891/unity-ceo-jim-whitehurst-tackles-the-runtime-fee-farrago-one-last-time/ |website=pocketgamer.biz |date=17 November 2023}} In response to backlash, Unity canceled this runtime fee in September 2024.

Unity gives users the ability to create games and experiences in both 2D and 3D, and the engine offers a primary scripting API in C# using Mono, for both the Unity editor in the form of plugins, and games themselves, as well as drag and drop functionality.{{cite web |title=UNITY: Unity Whitepaper |url=http://unity3d.com/whitepaper.html |website=unity3d.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222000905/http://unity3d.com/whitepaper.html |archive-date=22 February 2006 |url-status=dead}} Prior to C# being the primary programming language used for the engine, it previously supported Boo, which was removed with the release of Unity 5,{{cite web |url=https://unity3d.com/unity/whats-new/unity-5.0 |title=What's new in Unity 5.0 |publisher=Unity Technologies |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017210326/https://unity3d.com/unity/whats-new/unity-5.0 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |url-status=live }} and a Boo-based implementation of JavaScript called UnityScript, which was deprecated in August 2017, after the release of Unity 2017.1, in favor of C#.{{cite web |url=https://blogs.unity3d.com/2017/08/11/unityscripts-long-ride-off-into-the-sunset/ |title=UnityScript's long ride off into the sunset |last=Fine |first=Richard |date=August 11, 2017 |publisher=Unity Technologies Blog |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017203349/https://blogs.unity3d.com/2017/08/11/unityscripts-long-ride-off-into-the-sunset/ |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=GitHub - UnityScript |url=https://github.com/Unity-Technologies/unityscript |publisher=Unity Technologies |access-date=24 November 2021 |archive-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124175921/https://github.com/Unity-Technologies/unityscript |url-status=live }}

Within 2D games, Unity allows importation of sprites and an advanced 2D world renderer. For 3D games, Unity allows specification of texture compression, mipmaps, and resolution settings for each platform that the game engine supports,{{Cite web |url=https://unity3d.com/unity/features/multiplatform |title=Unity – Multiplatform |website=Unity |publisher=Unity Technologies |access-date=June 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612185354/https://unity3d.com/unity/features/multiplatform |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live }} and provides support for bump mapping, reflection mapping, parallax mapping, screen space ambient occlusion (SSAO), dynamic shadows using shadow maps, render-to-texture and full-screen post-processing effects.{{cite web |title=Using DirectX11 in Unity 4 |url=http://docs.unity3d.com/Documentation/Manual/DirectX11.html |publisher=Unity Technologies |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312140345/http://docs.unity3d.com/Documentation/Manual/DirectX11.html |archive-date=March 12, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Two separate render pipelines are available, High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) and Universal Render Pipeline (URP, previously LWRP), in addition to the legacy built-in pipeline.{{cite web |last=Torres Bonet |first=Ruben |date=April 19, 2018 |title=Unity SRP Overview: Scriptable Render Pipeline |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/unity-srp-overview-scriptable-render-pipeline |access-date=11 December 2022 |website=Game Developer |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211090516/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/unity-srp-overview-scriptable-render-pipeline |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Unity - Manual: Render pipelines |url=https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/render-pipelines.html |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=Unity Docs |language=en |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221230004/https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/render-pipelines.html |url-status=live }} All three render pipelines are incompatible with each other.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Unity - Manual: Built-in shaders |url=https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/shader-built-in.html |access-date=2022-02-24 |website=Unity Docs |language=en |archive-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222172844/https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/shader-built-in.html |url-status=live }} Unity offers a tool to upgrade shaders using the legacy renderer to URP or HDRP.

Creators can develop and sell user-generated assets to other game makers via the Unity Asset Store. This includes 3D and 2D assets and environments for developers to buy and sell.{{cite news |last1=Savov |first1=Vlad |date=June 30, 2017 |title=Unity is the little game engine that could revolutionize animated movies |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/30/15899446/unity-cinemachine-unite-europe-2017-animation |url-status=live |access-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909064348/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/30/15899446/unity-cinemachine-unite-europe-2017-animation |archive-date=September 9, 2018}} Unity Asset Store launched in 2010. By 2018, there had been approximately 40 million downloads through the digital store.{{cite news |last1=Grubb |first1=Jeff |date=July 18, 2018 |title=Unity's asset store boss has big plans to fight Epic's Unreal |work=VentureBeat |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/18/unitys-asset-store-boss-has-big-plans-to-fight-epics-unreal/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909130049/https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/18/unitys-asset-store-boss-has-big-plans-to-fight-epics-unreal/ |archive-date=September 9, 2018}}

Unity is a cross-platform engine.{{cite interview |interviewer=Dean Takahashi |first=John |last=Riccitiello |date=October 23, 2014 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/10/23/john-riccitiello-sets-out-to-identify-the-engine-of-growth-for-unity-technologies-interview/ |title=John Riccitiello sets out to identify the engine of growth for Unity Technologies (interview) |work=VentureBeat |access-date=January 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117174953/http://venturebeat.com/2014/10/23/john-riccitiello-sets-out-to-identify-the-engine-of-growth-for-unity-technologies-interview/ |archive-date=January 17, 2015 |url-status=live }} The Unity editor is supported on Windows, macOS, and the Linux platform, while the engine itself currently supports building games for more than 19 different platforms, including mobile, desktop, consoles, and virtual reality.{{cite news |title=Video game company grabs two buildings on Mission Street for big expansion |last1=Kelliher |first1=Fiona |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2018/08/24/video-game-unity-san-francisco-soma.html |newspaper=San Francisco Business Times |date=August 24, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003204232/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2018/08/24/video-game-unity-san-francisco-soma.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Unity officially releases its new game engine: Unity 5 |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/3/8142099/unity-5-engine-release |work=The Verge |date=March 3, 2015 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116122512/https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/3/8142099/unity-5-engine-release |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live }} Unity 2022.3 LTS officially supports the following platforms:{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Unity - Manual: System requirements for Unity 2020 LTS|url=https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/system-requirements.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-15|website=docs.unity3d.com|language=en|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415212024/https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/system-requirements.html}}

• Mobile platforms iOS,{{cite news |title=Unity CEO says half of all games are built on Unity |last1=Dillet |first1=Romain |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/05/unity-ceo-says-half-of-all-games-are-built-on-unity/ |work=TechCrunch |date=September 5, 2018 |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220182337/https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/05/unity-ceo-says-half-of-all-games-are-built-on-unity/ |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |url-status=live }} iPadOS, Android (Android TV{{cite book|last1=Lavieri|first1=Edward|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7AxTDwAAQBAJ|title=Getting Started with Unity 2018: A Beginner's Guide to 2D and 3D game development with Unity, 3rd Edition|publisher=Packt Publishing|year=2018|isbn=9781788832915|page=20|access-date=December 4, 2018}}), tvOS;{{cite news|last1=Suckley|first1=Matt|date=December 10, 2015|title=Unity 5.3 launches with improved support for iOS 9 and WebGL|work=Pocketgamer.biz|url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/62426/unity-5-point-3-launches/|url-status=live|access-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173334/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/62426/unity-5-point-3-launches/|archive-date=March 22, 2019}}
• Desktop platforms Windows (Universal Windows Platform{{cite news |title=Unity 5.5 can now be used to create HoloLens augmented reality titles |last1=Coppock |first1=Mark |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/unity-5-5-adds-windows-holographic-support/ |work=Digital Trends |date=November 30, 2016 |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209152436/https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/unity-5-5-adds-windows-holographic-support/ |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}), Mac, Linux;,{{cite news |title=Unity game engine heading to the browser without plug-ins |last1=Bright |first1=Peter |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/03/unity-game-engine-heading-to-the-browser-without-plug-ins/ |newspaper=Ars Technica |date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173330/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/03/unity-game-engine-heading-to-the-browser-without-plug-ins/ |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |url-status=live }} ChromeOS
• Web platform WebGL;
• Console platforms PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5,{{cite news|last1=Takahashi|first1=Dean|date=February 4, 2021|title=Unity Technologies posts Q4 revenue of $220.3 million, up 39%|language=en|work=VentureBeat|url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/02/04/unity-technologies-posts-q4-revenue-of-220-3-million-up-39/|access-date=February 25, 2021|series=GamesBeat|archive-date=February 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221020007/https://venturebeat.com/2021/02/04/unity-technologies-posts-q4-revenue-of-220-3-million-up-39/|url-status=live}} Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S,{{cite news|last1=Parijat|first1=Shubhankar|date=20 November 2020|title=Xbox Series S is "An Extremely Capable Machine" – Unity Chief Product Officer|language=en|work=GamingBolt|url=https://gamingbolt.com/xbox-series-s-is-an-extremely-capable-machine-unity-chief-product-officer|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422111532/https://gamingbolt.com/xbox-series-s-is-an-extremely-capable-machine-unity-chief-product-officer|url-status=live}} Nintendo Switch;
• Virtual/Extended reality platforms Oculus, PlayStation VR,{{cite news |last1=DeNisco Rayome |first1=Alison |date=January 23, 2017 |title=How to become a Unity developer for VR and AR |work=Tech Republic |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-become-a-unity-developer-for-vr-and-ar/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213074438/https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-become-a-unity-developer-for-vr-and-ar/ |archive-date=December 13, 2018}} PlayStation VR2, Google's ARCore,{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=Peter|date=October 4, 2017|title=Unity 2017.2 Featuring Optimised Support for ARCore and ARKit launching This Month|work=VR Focus|url=https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/10/unity-2017-2-featuring-optimised-support-for-arcore-and-arkit-launching-this-month/|access-date=December 4, 2018|archive-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003204643/https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/10/unity-2017-2-featuring-optimised-support-for-arcore-and-arkit-launching-this-month/|url-status=dead}} Apple's ARKit,{{cite news |title=Unity ARKit update includes persistent mapping and improved tracking |last1=Clayton |first1=Natalie |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/68345/unity-arkit-update-includes-persistent-mapping-and-improved-tracking/ |work=Pocketgamer.biz |date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173329/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/68345/unity-arkit-update-includes-persistent-mapping-and-improved-tracking/ |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |url-status=live }} Windows Mixed Reality{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=Peter|date=February 17, 2018|title=Build in Unity? Want to Know More About Crafting for Windows Mixed Reality? Then Check out These new Videos From Microsoft|work=VR Focus|url=https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/02/build-in-unity-want-to-know-more-about-crafting-for-windows-mixed-reality-then-check-out-these-new-videos-from-microsoft/|access-date=December 4, 2018|archive-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003204609/https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/02/build-in-unity-want-to-know-more-about-crafting-for-windows-mixed-reality-then-check-out-these-new-videos-from-microsoft/|url-status=dead}} (HoloLens{{Cite web|last=Wawro|first=Alex|date=29 April 2015|title=Unity rolls out support for Microsoft's HoloLens goggles|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/unity-rolls-out-support-for-microsoft-s-hololens-goggles|url-status=live|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=Game Developer|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223010704/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/unity-rolls-out-support-for-microsoft-s-hololens-goggles}}), Magic Leap,{{cite news |title=Magic Leap Publishes More L.E.A.P. Developer Videos Featuring Insomniac Games, Weta Workshop & More |last1=Palladino |first1=Tommy |url=https://magic-leap.reality.news/news/magic-leap-publishes-more-l-e-a-p-developer-videos-featuring-insomniac-games-weta-workshop-more-0189822/ |work=Next Reality |date=November 9, 2018 |access-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173334/https://magic-leap.reality.news/news/magic-leap-publishes-more-l-e-a-p-developer-videos-featuring-insomniac-games-weta-workshop-more-0189822/ |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |url-status=live }} and via Unity XR SDK{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Unity - Manual: XR|url=https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/XR.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-15|website=docs.unity3d.com|language=en|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415223704/https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/XR.html}} Steam VR,{{cite news|last1=Plummer|first1=Quinten|date=February 16, 2016|title=Unity and SteamVR Unite for Native Vive Support|work=Tech News World|url=https://www.technewsworld.com/story/83116.html|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173331/https://www.technewsworld.com/story/83116.html|archive-date=March 22, 2019}} Google Cardboard.{{cite news|last1=Grubb|first1=Jeff|date=February 10, 2016|title=Unity game-making tool gets native support for Google's 5M Cardboard virtual reality devices|work=VentureBeat|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/02/10/unity-gets-native-support-for-googles-5m-cardboard-virtual-reality-devices/|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173436/https://venturebeat.com/2016/02/10/unity-gets-native-support-for-googles-5m-cardboard-virtual-reality-devices/|archive-date=March 22, 2019}}

Formerly supported platforms are Wii,{{Cite web|last=Caoili|first=Eric|date=2 June 2008|title=Unity to Support Wii Console as Authorized Middleware Provider|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/unity-to-support-wii-console-as-authorized-middleware-provider|url-status=live|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=Game Developer|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223010702/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/unity-to-support-wii-console-as-authorized-middleware-provider}} Wii U,{{Cite web|last=Handrahan|first=Matthew|date=19 September 2012|title=Unity signs "industry first" licensing agreement for Wii U|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-09-19-unity-signs-industry-first-licensing-agreement-for-wii-u|url-status=live|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=GamesIndustry.biz|archive-date=April 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409141515/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-09-19-unity-signs-industry-first-licensing-agreement-for-wii-u}} PlayStation 3,{{Cite web|last=DeLoura|first=Mark|date=9 March 2010|title=In-Depth: The State Of Game Engines At GDC 2010|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/in-depth-the-state-of-game-engines-at-gdc-2010|url-status=live|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=Game Developer|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223010706/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/in-depth-the-state-of-game-engines-at-gdc-2010}} Xbox 360, Tizen,{{cite news|last1=Pitcher|first1=Jenna|date=May 24, 2013|title=Unity supporting Linux-based platform Tizen|work=Polygon|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/5/24/4361686/unity-supporting-linux-based-platform-tizen|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173329/https://www.polygon.com/2013/5/24/4361686/unity-supporting-linux-based-platform-tizen|archive-date=March 22, 2019}} PlayStation Vita,{{cite news|last1=Gilbert|first1=Ben|date=January 15, 2014|title=One of gaming's most-used engines arrives today on PlayStation Vita|work=Engadget|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/01/15/playstation-vita-unity/|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214150848/https://www.engadget.com/2014/01/15/playstation-vita-unity/|archive-date=February 14, 2019}} 3DS,{{cite news|last1=Jarvis|first1=Matthew|date=February 1, 2016|title=Unity now supports Nintendo 3DS|work=MCVUK|url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development/unity-now-supports-nintendo-3ds|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173411/https://www.mcvuk.com/development/unity-now-supports-nintendo-3ds|archive-date=March 22, 2019}} BlackBerry 10,{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Mike|date=22 July 2013|title=Unity now supports Windows Phone 8, Windows Store and BlackBerry 10|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/unity-now-supports-windows-phone-8-windows-store-and-blackberry-10|url-status=live|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=Game Developer|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223010705/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/unity-now-supports-windows-phone-8-windows-store-and-blackberry-10}} Windows Phone 8, Samsung Smart TV,{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Richard|date=August 28, 2014|title=Unity Adds Another Big Screen Option for Game Developers with Unity 4.5 for Samsung Smart TV|work=App Developer Magazine|url=https://appdevelopermagazine.com/unity-adds-another-big-screen-option-for-game-developers-with-unity-4.5-for-samsung-smart-tv/|url-status=live|access-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173334/https://appdevelopermagazine.com/unity-adds-another-big-screen-option-for-game-developers-with-unity-4.5-for-samsung-smart-tv/|archive-date=March 22, 2019}} Gear VR, Daydream,{{cite news|last1=Batchelor|first1=James|date=December 14, 2016|title=Unity dropping major updates in favour of date-based model|work=Gamesindustry.biz|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-12-14-unity-dropping-major-updates-in-favour-of-date-based-model|url-status=live|access-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721192025/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-12-14-unity-dropping-major-updates-in-favour-of-date-based-model|archive-date=July 21, 2018}} Vuforia, Facebook Gameroom, and Stadia.{{Cite web |last=Moon |first=Mariella |date=24 March 2020 |title=Google makes it easier for studios to self-publish Stadia games |url=https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-24-google-stadia-makers.html |url-status=live |access-date= |website=Engadget |language=en-US |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415212022/https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-24-google-stadia-makers.html }} Unity formerly supported other platforms including its own Unity Web Player, a Web browser plugin. However, it was deprecated in favor of WebGL.{{cite web |last=Echterhoff |first=Jonas |date=2015-10-08 |title=Unity Web Player Roadmap |url=http://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/10/08/unity-web-player-roadmap/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425105544/http://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/10/08/unity-web-player-roadmap/ |archive-date=April 25, 2016 |access-date=April 18, 2016 |work=Unity Technologies Blog}} Since version 5, Unity has been offering its WebGL bundle compiled to JavaScript using a 2-stage language translator (C# to C++ and finally to JavaScript).{{cite web |last=Kovelenov |first=Yuri |date=August 23, 2018 |title=Verge3D versus Unity WebGL |url=https://www.soft8soft.com/verge3d-versus-unity-webgl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824135135/https://www.soft8soft.com/verge3d-versus-unity-webgl/ |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |access-date=August 24, 2018 |website=Soft8Soft}} Unity was the default software development kit (SDK) used for Nintendo's Wii U video game console, with a free copy included by Nintendo with each Wii U developer license. Unity Technologies called this bundling of a third-party SDK an "industry first".{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/20/4641786/unity-for-wii-u-opens-up-gamepad-hardware-and-more-to-developers |title=Unity for Wii U opens up GamePad hardware and more to developers |last=McElroy |first=Griffin |date=August 20, 2013 |publisher=Polygon |access-date=August 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808044120/http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/20/4641786/unity-for-wii-u-opens-up-gamepad-hardware-and-more-to-developers |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |url-status=live }}

In August 2023, Unity China announced that it would soon launch a Chinese edition called Tuanjie Engine ({{Lang-zh|c=|t=|p=Tuánjié Yǐnqíng|s=团结引擎}}) based on Unity 2022 LTS, which includes support for Chinese platforms like Weixin Mini Game, OpenHarmony and AliOS.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-23 |title= |script-title=zh:Unity 引擎中国版“团结引擎”正式发布 |trans-title=Chinese edition of Unity Engine 'Tuanjie Engine' officially announced |url=https://www.pingwest.com/w/287305 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=PingWest |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422042321/https://www.pingwest.com/w/287305 |url-status=live }}

During its first ten years as a product, the paid versions of Unity were sold outright; in 2016, the corporation changed to a subscription model. Unity has free and paid licensing options. The free license is for personal use or smaller companies generating less than $100,000 annually, later raised to $200,000, and the subscriptions are based on revenues generated by the games using Unity.{{cite news |last1=Matney |first1=Lucas |date=May 25, 2017 |title=With new realities to build, Unity positioned to become tech giant |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/25/with-new-realities-to-build-unity-positioned-to-become-tech-giant/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020173106/https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/25/with-new-realities-to-build-unity-positioned-to-become-tech-giant/ |archive-date=October 20, 2018}} The subscription-based versions also include additional features geared towards professional projects, including analytics, performance analysis and error reporting, and Cloud Build among others.{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=2015-03-03 |title="There's no royalties, no f***ing around" - Riccitiello |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/theres-no-royalties-no-f-ing-around-riccitiello |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en |archive-date=September 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921015632/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/theres-no-royalties-no-f-ing-around-riccitiello |url-status=live }}

The paid option, Unity Pro, had been required for developers that had over $200,000 in annual revenue, but this also could have been provided for console developers through a Preferred Platform License from the console manufacturer. The Unity Pro keys would have been part of the other SDK from the console manufacturer that the developer paid for. In May 2016, Unity released "Unity Plus", a mid-range tier between Personal and Pro that provides tools and benefits oriented towards "first-time commercial developers".{{Cite magazine |title=Game engine Unity expands its reach with 'Unity Plus' |language=en-GB |magazine=Wired UK |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/unity-game-engine-new-launches |access-date=2023-09-12 |issn=1357-0978 |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009223912/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/unity-game-engine-new-launches |url-status=live }}

In June 2021, Unity changed its licensing terms to require any developer making games on the closed console systems (PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox) regardless of revenue to have a Unity Pro license or a Preferred Platform License Key from the manufacturers. Sony and Nintendo provide this as part of the SDK, but Microsoft had yet to implement this functionality for their SDK.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/going-forward-unity-devs-will-need-unity-pro-to-publish-on-consoles | title = Going forward, Unity devs will need Unity Pro to publish on consoles | first = Bryant | last = Francis | date = August 4, 2021 | access-date = February 22, 2022 | website = Game Developer | archive-date = February 23, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220223010704/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/going-forward-unity-devs-will-need-unity-pro-to-publish-on-consoles | url-status = live }} The engine source code is licensed on a "per-case basis via special arrangements".{{cite web |title=FAQ Licensing & activation |url=https://unity3d.com/unity/faq/2491 |website=Unity Technologies |access-date=5 May 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505220251/https://unity3d.com/unity/faq/2491 |url-status=live }}

On September 12, 2023, Unity announced that use of the engine would become subject to royalties (referred to as a "runtime fee") beginning in January 2024, calculated per-installation and charged monthly, if the product reaches specific revenue and lifetime installation thresholds. Unity states that monetizing the runtime in this manner is required to "allow creators to keep the ongoing financial gains from player engagement."{{Cite web |title=Unity plan pricing and packaging updates |url=https://blog.unity.com/news/plan-pricing-and-packaging-updates |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Unity Blog |language=en |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913012740/https://blog.unity.com/news/plan-pricing-and-packaging-updates |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=2023-09-12 |title=Game devs say Unity's big change puts studios at risk |url=https://www.polygon.com/23870247/unity-engine-pricing-model-install-fee |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912224051/https://www.polygon.com/23870247/unity-engine-pricing-model-install-fee |url-status=live }}

The new terms faced criticism from game developers who had been using Unity for years, particularly regarding how this fee would be calculated and enforced, and the implications for demos, freemium games and bundles distributed for charitable causes.{{Cite news |last=Stuart |first=Keith |date=2023-09-12 |title=Game developers furious as Unity Engine announces new fees |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/sep/12/unity-engine-fees-backlash-response |access-date=2023-09-12 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Plant |first=Logan |date=2023-09-12 |title=Why Unity's New Install Fees Are Spurring Massive Backlash Among Game Developers |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/why-unitys-new-install-fees-are-spurring-massive-backlash-among-game-developers |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912223138/https://www.ign.com/articles/why-unitys-new-install-fees-are-spurring-massive-backlash-among-game-developers |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Bryant |date=2023-09-12 |title=Unity introducing new fee attached to game installs |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/unity-to-start-charging-fee-pegged-to-game-installs |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Game Developer |language=en |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913000910/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/unity-to-start-charging-fee-pegged-to-game-installs |url-status=live }} The change was considered to be contradictory to statements made by former CEO John Riccitiello in 2015 when Unity originally announced its shift to free and subscription-based models, stating that all users would "get the full power of Unity for free", and that there would not be royalties (in contrast to Unreal Engine, which had recently switched to free distribution but with royalties paid above a specific revenue threshold).{{cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=2023-09-15 |title=Wait, is Unity allowed to just change its fee structure like that? |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/09/wait-is-unity-allowed-to-just-change-its-fee-structure-like-that/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=Ars Technica |archive-date=September 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915191448/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/09/wait-is-unity-allowed-to-just-change-its-fee-structure-like-that/ |url-status=live }}

Unity then issued a statement clarifying the definition of a chargeable "installation", and announced that the fee would not apply to charity games or bundles.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/unity-backtracks-slightly-on-plans-to-charge-developers-for-game-installs | title = Unity backtracks slightly on plans to charge developers for game installs | first = Tom | last = Phillips | date = September 13, 2023 | accessdate = September 13, 2023 | work = Eurogamer }}{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=2023-09-12 |title=Game devs say Unity's big change puts studios at risk |url=https://www.polygon.com/23870247/unity-engine-pricing-model-install-fee |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912224051/https://www.polygon.com/23870247/unity-engine-pricing-model-install-fee |url-status=live }} Many indie developers, including Among Us developer Innersloth{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Kat |title=Among Us: Temporary Delisting 'On the Table' as Developer Weighs Engine Swap Amid Unity Scandal |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/among-us-delisting-innersloth |access-date=14 September 2023 |work=IGN |date=13 September 2023 |language=en |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914080752/https://www.ign.com/articles/among-us-delisting-innersloth |url-status=live }} and Slay the Spire developer Mega Crit, announced that they would switch to other engines for future games, specifically the Godot engine for Slay the Spire 2.{{cite web |title=Slay the Spire developer pledges to ditch Unity unless controversial charges plan reversed |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/slay-the-spire-developer-pledges-to-ditch-unity-unless-controversial-charges-plan-reversed |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en |date=14 September 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Wilde |first1=Tyler |title=Slay the Spire 2 ditched Unity for open-source engine Godot after over 2 years of development |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/slay-the-spire-2-ditched-unity-for-open-source-engine-godot-after-2-years-of-development/ |access-date=29 December 2024 |work=PC Gamer |date=11 April 2024 |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414082316/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/slay-the-spire-2-ditched-unity-for-open-source-engine-godot-after-2-years-of-development/ |url-status=live }}

An analysis by Ars Technica found that several older versions of Unity's terms of service would allow developers to continue to release their software without having to pay the new fee, as long as they did not update their project after the January 1, 2024 date. Ars Technica also discovered that Unity had apparently removed a GitHub repository that permitted developers to track changes in Unity's terms of service; Mega Crit accused Unity of having done so to apply their new financial model to games retroactively.{{cite web | last=Obedkov | first=Evgeny | title=Devs discovered that Unity removed GitHub repo to track license changes and updated its TOS be retroactive | website=Game World Observer | date=2023-09-14 | url=https://gameworldobserver.com/2023/09/14/unity-license-terms-github-repo-removed-retroactive-changes | access-date=2023-09-15}}{{cite magazine | last=Jones | first=Ali | title=Slay the Spire studio serves Unity one of its harshest roasts yet, and other devs love it | magazine=Games Radar | date=2023-09-14 | url=https://www.gamesradar.com/acclaimed-roguelike-developer-demands-unity-walks-back-new-licensing-rules-we-have-never-made-a-public-statement-before-that-is-how-badly-you-fed-up/ | access-date=2023-09-15 | archive-date=September 15, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915182138/https://www.gamesradar.com/acclaimed-roguelike-developer-demands-unity-walks-back-new-licensing-rules-we-have-never-made-a-public-statement-before-that-is-how-badly-you-fed-up/ | url-status=live }} An analysis by Game Developer came to the conclusion that the changes were intended to encourage games with large install bases such as Genshin Impact, Subway Surfers and Hearthstone to migrate to Unity services in order to get a fee reduction. The article noted that the Operate Solutions division, handling in-app-purchase services for example, was far more profitable than the Create division, and added that "The many indie developers who will be left by the roadside are completely incidental to Unity's goals, and are not going to be a significant factor in its future decision making."{{cite web |last1=Vilberg |first1=Petter |title=Unity's Just Not Into You, Indie Developer |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/blogs/unity-s-just-not-into-you-indie-developer |website=Game Developer |language=en |date=14 September 2023 |access-date=September 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101142525/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/blogs/unity-s-just-not-into-you-indie-developer |url-status=live }} Gameindustry.biz described the move as "self-combustion" and identified the changes as an example of enshittification.{{cite web |last1=Sinclair |first1=Brendan |title=Unity's self-combustion engine {{!}} This Week in Business |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unitys-self-combustion-engine-this-week-in-business |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en |date=15 September 2023 |access-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012224902/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unitys-self-combustion-engine-this-week-in-business |url-status=live }}

In response to this negative feedback, Unity Technologies introduced revised runtime fee terms on September 22, 2023. These included removing any fees for uses of Unity Personal for projects funded up to $200,000 (an increase from the previous $100,000 threshold), fees would only apply to games developed with Unity 2024 and beyond without any retroactive fees, and the fee would be based on the lesser of 2.5% of monthly revenue or a calculated value based on monthly engagements, both which rely only on self-reporting of these numbers.{{cite web | url =https://www.ign.com/articles/unity-has-apologized-for-its-install-fee-policy-and-says-it-will-be-making-changes-to-it | title = Unity Has Apologized For Its Install Fee Policy and Says It 'Will Be Making Changes' to It | first = Adam | last = Bankhurst | date = September 17, 2023 | accessdate = September 17, 2023 | work = IGN }}{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/unity-to-roll-back-some-key-aspects-of-runtime-fee-policy | title = Unity to Roll Back Some Key Aspects of Runtime Fee Policy | first = Alex | last = Steadman | date = September 22, 2023 | accessdate = September 22, 2023 | work = IGN }} Unity Technologies faced a 60% decline in stock price over the year to May 2024, partially attributed to the runtime fee policy.{{cite web |title=Is Unity Software Stock a Buy Now? |url=https://www.aol.com/unity-software-stock-buy-now-120000065.html?guccounter=1 |website=www.aol.com |date=3 July 2024 |access-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717085124/https://www.aol.com/unity-software-stock-buy-now-120000065.html?guccounter=1 |url-status=live }} Usage of Unity waned after these licensing decisions within the indie game community. The use of Unity at the 2023 Global Game Jam was 61%; this declined to 36% for 2024. A similar decline was recorded by the GMTK Game Jam.{{cite web |last1=Bespyatova |first1=Ekaterina |title=Organizers of the GMTK Game Jam: Over the year, the share of Unity games declined sharply, while the share of Godot games increased |url=https://app2top.com/news/organizers-of-the-gmtk-game-jam-over-the-year-the-share-of-unity-games-declined-sharply-while-the-share-of-godot-games-increased-270588.html |website=app2top.com |language=ru |date=23 August 2024 |access-date=August 24, 2024 |archive-date=September 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909030224/https://app2top.com/news/organizers-of-the-gmtk-game-jam-over-the-year-the-share-of-unity-games-declined-sharply-while-the-share-of-godot-games-increased-270588.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Game Engine Popularity in 2024 |url=https://gamefromscratch.com/game-engine-popularity-in-2024/ |website=GameFromScratch.com |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=August 24, 2024 |archive-date=August 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824101729/https://gamefromscratch.com/game-engine-popularity-in-2024/ |url-status=live }}

CEO Matthew Bromberg announced in September 2024 that the company was discontinuing the runtime fee model of licensing, and instead would annually increase the price of existing plans.{{cite news |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |title=Unity cancels its much-hated Runtime Fee, opting for traditional price increases instead |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/unity-cancels-its-much-hated-runtime-fee/ |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=VentureBeat |date=12 September 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912152617/https://venturebeat.com/games/unity-cancels-its-much-hated-runtime-fee/ |url-status=live }}

The engine is used in games including Pokémon Go, Monument Valley, Call of Duty: Mobile, Beat Saber and Cuphead according to the Financial Times in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Tim |last2=Kruppa |first2=Miles |date=12 August 2020 |title=Epic and Unity rev their engines for the next era of entertainment |url=https://www.ft.com/content/f77b7979-c943-4b9d-b7b7-7953b63bea7e |publisher=Financial Times |access-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200812195345/https://www.ft.com/content/f77b7979-c943-4b9d-b7b7-7953b63bea7e |url-status=live }} Some early commercial games in 2007 included Splume (Flashbang Studios), Magical Flying Pink Pony Game (Starscene Software) and Global Conflicts: Palestine (Serious Games Interactive).{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxLM2u-QY4 |title=Unity 10 Year Anniversary Retrospective Highlight Reel |date=June 24, 2015 |type=Videotape |publisher=Unity Technologies |via=YouTube |access-date=February 19, 2024 |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219091947/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxLM2u-QY4 |url-status=live }}

{{As of|2018}}, Unity had been used to create approximately half of the mobile games on the market and 60 percent of augmented reality and virtual reality content,{{cite news |last1=Bonfiglio |first1=Nahila |date=October 1, 2018 |title=DeepMind partners with gaming company for AI research |work=The Daily Dot |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/unity-deempind-ai/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002122834/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/unity-deempind-ai/ |archive-date=October 2, 2018}} including approximately 90 percent on emerging augmented reality platforms, such as Microsoft HoloLens, and 90 percent of Samsung Gear VR content. Unity technology is the basis for most virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, and Fortune said Unity "dominates the virtual reality business".{{cite news |last1=Gaudiosi |first1=John |date=March 19, 2015 |title=This company dominates the virtual reality business, and it's not named Oculus |work=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2015/03/19/unity-virtual-reality/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003433/http://fortune.com/2015/03/19/unity-virtual-reality/ |archive-date=December 5, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Gaudiosi |first1=John |date=February 11, 2016 |title=Why Valve's Partnership With Unity Is Important to Virtual Reality |work=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2016/02/11/valves-partners-with-unity/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208121257/http://fortune.com/2016/02/11/valves-partners-with-unity/ |archive-date=December 8, 2018}}{{cite news |date=2018 |title=Most Innovative Companies: Unity Technologies |work=Fast Company |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/company/unity-technologies |url-status=dead |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927024813/https://www.fastcompany.com/company/unity-technologies |archive-date=September 27, 2018}}

Unity allows researchers in the field of deep reinforcement learning to train agents inside Unity-created environments.{{cite news |last1=Captain |first1=Sean |date=September 19, 2017 |title=Machine Learning Is Making Video Game Characters Smarter And Robots More Competent |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40469609/machine-learning-is-making-video-game-characters-smarter-and-robots-more-competent |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121082156/https://www.fastcompany.com/40469609/machine-learning-is-making-video-game-characters-smarter-and-robots-more-competent |archive-date=November 21, 2018 |access-date=November 26, 2018 |work=Fast Company}} Unity Machine Learning Agents can act as virtual characters or robots to learn creative strategies to interact with simulated real-world environments. The software is used, for example, to develop robots and self-driving cars.

In the 2010s, Unity Technologies used its game engine to transition into other industries using the real-time 3D platform, including film and automotive.{{cite news |title=How Neill Blomkamp and Unity are shaping the future of filmmaking with Adam: The Mirror |last1=Liptak |first1=Andrew |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/4/16409734/unity-neill-blomkamp-oats-studios-mirror-cinemachine-short-film |work=The Verge |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925005223/https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/4/16409734/unity-neill-blomkamp-oats-studios-mirror-cinemachine-short-film |archive-date=September 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=How gaming company Unity is driving automakers toward virtual reality |last1=Edelstein |first1=Stephen |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/unity-automotive-virtual-reality-and-hmi/ |work=Digital Trends |date=May 17, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807202850/https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/unity-automotive-virtual-reality-and-hmi/ |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |url-status=live }} Unity first experimented in filmmaking with Adam, a short film about a robot escaping from prison. Later, Unity partnered with filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, whose Oats Studios used the engine's tools, including real-time rendering and Cinemachine, to create two computer-generated short films, Adam: The Mirror and Adam: The Prophet. At the 2017 Unite Europe conference in Amsterdam, Unity focused on filmmaking with Unity 2017.1's new Cinemachine tool. In 2018, Disney Television Animation launched three shorts, called Baymax Dreams, that were created using the Unity engine.{{cite news |title=Disney Television Animation Launching 'Big Hero 6'-Themed Shorts |last1=Giardina |first1=Carolyn |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/disney-television-animation-launching-big-hero-6-themed-shorts-1133450 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809182203/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/disney-television-animation-launching-big-hero-6-themed-shorts-1133450 |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |url-status=live }} The Unity engine was also used by Disney to create backgrounds for the 2019 film The Lion King.{{cite web |last1=De Vynck |first1=Gerrit |date=May 7, 2020 |title=Unity Technologies Aims to Bring Video Game Tools Into the Real World |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-07/unity-technologies-aims-to-bring-video-game-tools-into-the-real-world |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 11, 2021 |work=Bloomberg |archive-date=March 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306132055/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-07/unity-technologies-aims-to-bring-video-game-tools-into-the-real-world |url-status=live }} Automakers use Unity's technology to create full-scale models of new vehicles in virtual reality, build virtual assembly lines, and train workers. Unity is also developing solutions in the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction.

Unity's engine is used by DeepMind, an Alphabet company, to train artificial intelligence.{{cite news |last1=Captain |first1=Sean |date=September 26, 2018 |title=How Google's DeepMind will train its AI inside Unity's video game worlds |work=Fast Company |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90240010/deepminds-ai-will-learn-inside-unitys-video-game-worlds |url-status=dead |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927024638/https://www.fastcompany.com/90240010/deepminds-ai-will-learn-inside-unitys-video-game-worlds |archive-date=September 27, 2018}} Other uses being pursued by Unity Technologies include architecture, engineering, and construction.{{cite news |title=Why EA's former boss believes the 3D tech that powers video games will make way more money outside of gaming |last1=Oreskovic |first1=Alexei |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/unity-ceo-john-riccitiello-opportunity-beyond-gaming-2018-9?r=UK&IR=T |work=Business Insider |date=September 14, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915012242/https://www.businessinsider.com/unity-ceo-john-riccitiello-opportunity-beyond-gaming-2018-9?r=UK&IR=T |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |url-status=live }}

On December 16, 2013, Unity Technologies Japan revealed an official mascot character named {{nihongo|Unity-chan|ユニティちゃん|Yuniti-chan}}, real name {{nihongo|Kohaku Ōtori|大鳥 こはく|Ōtori Kohaku}} (voiced by {{Interlanguage link|Asuka Kakumoto|ja|角元明日香|zh|角元明日香}}). The character's associated game data was released in early 2014.{{cite magazine |date=2013-12-16 |title='Unity'開発者向けに無償利用可能なキャラクター'ユニティちゃん'が来春デビュー！ |trans-title=The character 'Unity-chan' that can be used free of charge for 'Unity' developers will debut next spring! |url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201312/16045043.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630182124/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201312/16045043.html |archive-date=June 30, 2016 |access-date=June 22, 2016 |magazine=Famitsu |language=ja}}{{cite web |date=December 16, 2013 |title=Meet Unity-chan, the Unity Engine's New Mascot in Japan |url=http://www.dualshockers.com/2013/12/16/meet-unity-chan-the-unity-engines-new-mascot-in-japan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827200855/http://www.dualshockers.com/2013/12/16/meet-unity-chan-the-unity-engines-new-mascot-in-japan/ |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |access-date=June 22, 2016}} The character was designed by Unity Technologies Japan designer "ntny" as an open-source heroine character.{{cite web |date=April 15, 2014 |title=Unity Japan Introduces Their Mascot, Unity-Chan, And How She Was Made |url=https://www.siliconera.com/unity-japan-introduces-mascot-unity-chan-made/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815002837/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/15/unity-japan-introduces-mascot-unity-chan-made/ |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |access-date=June 22, 2016}} The company allows the use of Unity-chan and related characters in secondary projects under certain licenses.{{cite web |url=http://unity-chan.com/contents/guideline_en/ |title=Data Download-Guideline |work=Unity Chan! Official Website |date=December 10, 2014 |access-date=November 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126022809/http://unity-chan.com/contents/guideline_en/ |archive-date=November 26, 2015 |url-status=live }} For example, Unity-chan appears as a playable character in Runbow.{{cite web |last=Olney |first=Alex |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Exclusive: Check Out Runbow's Complete Cast of Colourful Crossover Characters |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/08/exclusive_check_out_runbows_complete_cast_of_colourful_crossover_characters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013035536/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/08/exclusive_check_out_runbows_complete_cast_of_colourful_crossover_characters |archive-date=October 13, 2015 |access-date=November 27, 2015 |work=Nintendo Life}}

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