The more I think on it, the worse it sounds. How exactly are they tracking installs? We need it to be clear on what they're tracking, otherwise that's a big privacy red flag.
And how accurate will it be? What about pirated installs? Charity keys? Etc. So many bits unclear.
A comment on the article brings up an interesting point: what about GOG offline installers? Add to that Epic Store freebies? The list of uncertain ways this could be a problem just keep appearing.
So...if you're already over the thresholds and you run a sale, you're already getting less - and then you're paying Unity a flat-fee for each of those new players!
@gamingonlinux this is ridiculous...what if I have 10 devices and install on those the same game? I won't risk anything, but the devs hate going bankrupt? I think this is something that they have to rethink... what about free-to-play games, like genshin impact? Not that I care about the game or the company, but I mean, I think they will l definitely say something about that...
@bonaccolto90@gamingonlinux the devs will probably prevent you from installing the game more than once. And good luck if you are in a place without reliable internet.
@jmcs@gamingonlinux they can prevent me to be connected simultaneously, how can they prevent me to install it? The game is basically a zip file and at the extraction there is everything it needs, game, maps, model, anticheat, you name it... I just need to open the game once to ping unity to their server, if it works like that...
@jmcs@gamingonlinux also think about the phone installs... similar concept, they can't prevent me to install their game on multiple devices...it's not their phone...it doesn't run "cognoverse" or "whatever their name is" OS...
@bonaccolto90@gamingonlinux they can try to fingerprint your computer. If the fingerprint doesn't match the previously used device, you are free to buy the game again. Phones make it even easier to do this, since they are much more locked down by default.
@jmcs@gamingonlinux this can't happen... Ever... Period... To the account? Yes... But PCs? No... Definitely not... We are talking like steam or epic out any other platform where you can buy games doesn't exist... We are taking like people don't have account... people change phone or PCs multiple times...not accounts...imagine buying the same game 500 times...
@jmcs@gamingonlinux and think about this...If I change my graphics card, or the memory, or the CPU, the fingerprint will change because it has to be bound to something, like the CD key of Microsoft...
@bonaccolto90@gamingonlinux I see you never had the joy of having Microsoft Office stop working because you replaced the wrong piece of hardware and it decided it was a different computer. It shouldn't happen, but customers have endured worse.
@jmcs@gamingonlinux no, never happened... always used Free and open source software and never had problems... With Windows previously and especially now on Linux...
@gamingonlinux What about families who install a single purchase on multiple computers and consoles? And yes, what are they tracking to identify a unique install?
@gamingonlinux And if I install a game in multiple devices, does it count as multiple installs? What if I do family sharing on Steam? What if the same install is used by multiple people, like on a Steam Deck? What if I uninstall-reinstall the game multiple times, to save space or simply because I change PCs?
The more I think about it the more useless an "install" is as a metric, honestly.
@gamingonlinux I don't see this working without the installer phoning home. New games will need to be online-once or always online. Either way, unless this is reversed, I think this is the end of Unity as a platform for low-to-moderately successful indies as we know it.
@gamingonlinux Since I'm usually low on space in my internal hdd's I uninstall and reinstall some of my favorite games a lot.. will that actually cost money to the devs now?
@gamingonlinux That has been my question. I doubt publishers and stores are going to want to track this information, so that leaves Unity phoning home...
@gamingonlinux they have actually lowered the fees (or increased the threshold).
I registered for a Unity Personal account a few days ago and it said "you need to make 100k$ or less per year". Now it is 200k$ so people can make double money than before without paying a license fee.
Add comment