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Facebook integrated a [[software development kit]] for games using the Unity game engine in 2013.<ref name="FacebookIntegration">{{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=1 November 2013 |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212211302/https://www.adweek.com/digital/unity-sdk-out-of-beta/ |archive-date=12 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The kit 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 in-game-image sharing.<ref name="FacebookIntegration" />
Unity acquired Applifier, a Helsinki-based mobile service provider, in March 2014. Applifier's game replay sharing and community service was initially called Everyplay, and became known as Unity Everyplay. The acquisition also meant that Applifier's mobile video ad network, GameAds, became Unity Ads.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unity to acquire Everyplay creator Applifier |date=13 March 2014 |url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/deal/58117/unity-to-acquire-everyplay-creator-applifier/ |publisher=Pocketgamer.biz |access-date=13 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924074724/http://www.pocketgamer.biz/deal/58117/unity-to-acquire-everyplay-creator-applifier/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Two more acquisitions followed later in 2014: Playnomics, a data analysis platform for developers (now Unity Analytics), and Tsugi, whose continuous integration service became known as Unity Cloud Build.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unity Technologies Bulks Up On Utilities With Acquisition Of Playnomics |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2014/04/18/unity-technologies-bulk-up-on-utilities-with-acquisition-of-playnomics/ |work=Forbes.com |access-date=13 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171039/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2014/04/18/unity-technologies-bulk-up-on-utilities-with-acquisition-of-playnomics/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Unity details new Cloud Build service; opens Unity Austin |url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/unity-details-new-cloud-build-service-opens-unity-austin/0196756/ |
In October 2014, Helgason announced in a blog post that he would be stepping down as CEO with [[John Riccitiello]], the former CEO of game company [[Electronic Arts]], replacing him. Helgason remained with the company as executive vice-president.<ref>{{cite interview |interviewer=Dean Takahashi |first=John |last=Riccitiello |date=23 October 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=18 January 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=17 January 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/22/john-riccitello-is-new-ceo-at-unity |title=John Riccitiello is New Ceo at Unity |publisher=IGN |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=2 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102074707/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/22/john-riccitello-is-new-ceo-at-unity |archive-date=2 November 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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Unity Technologies created the Unity Icon Collective in November 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Unity Icon Collective gives indie devs access to triple-A game art |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/unity-icon-collective-gives-indie-devs-access-to-triple-a-game-art/ |work=[[VentureBeat]] |date=15 November 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115101012/https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/unity-icon-collective-gives-indie-devs-access-to-triple-a-game-art/ |archive-date=15 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team creates assets for sale in the Unity Asset Store for PC and consoles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Unity Icon Collective gives indie devs access to triple-A game art |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/unity-icon-collective-gives-indie-devs-access-to-triple-a-game-art/ |work=[[VentureBeat]] |quote=Unity Technologies is unveiling the Unity Icon Collective, a team of game developers who will create high-quality art for the Unity Asset Store that developers can use in their own games. The team will focus on creating triple-A imagery, or art for the best PC and console games |date=15 November 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115101012/https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/unity-icon-collective-gives-indie-devs-access-to-triple-a-game-art/ |archive-date=15 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The assets—characters, environments, art, and animation—can be used in high-quality games; the move was seen as an attempt to compete with Unity's rivals, such as [[Epic Games]]' [[Unreal Engine]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Unity Icon Collective gives indie devs access to triple-A game art |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/unity-icon-collective-gives-indie-devs-access-to-triple-a-game-art/ |work=[[VentureBeat]] |quote=The move is Unity's attempt to move further up the food chain, from its roots in mobile games to the highest echelons of games, which is owned by rivals such as Epic Games Unreal Engine or in-house game engines like Electronic Arts' Frostbite. … The objects will be 'game ready,' meaning Unity developers will be able to take the assets and use them easily in their own game scenes. The assets range from characters and environments to art and animation. |date=15 November 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115101012/https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/unity-icon-collective-gives-indie-devs-access-to-triple-a-game-art/ |archive-date=15 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The company acquired [[Vivox]], a cross-platform voice and text chat provider based in [[Framingham, Massachusetts]], in January 2019.<ref name="Fogel19">{{cite news |title=Unity Technologies Acquires Voice And Text Chat Provider Vivox |last1=Fogel |first1=Stefanie |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/unity-technologies-acquires-vivox-1203122251/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=29 January 2019 |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203144334/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/unity-technologies-acquires-vivox-1203122251/ |archive-date=3 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> At an acquisition price of $123.4 million,<ref name="VentureBeat August2020">{{cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=24 August 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=19 January 2021|website=VentureBeat|publisher=|quote=}}</ref> the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Unity Technologies and operates independently.<ref name="Fogel19" /> Vivox's technology is used in ''[[Fortnite]]'', ''[[PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds]]'', and ''[[League of Legends]]'', among others.<ref name="Fogel19" /> Terms of the deal were not disclosed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Unity acquires cross-platform game voice and text chat service, Vivox |last1=Blake |first1=Vikki |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business/unity-acquires-cross-platform-game-voice-and-text-chat-service-vivox |work=MCVUK |date=31 January 2019 |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173409/https://www.mcvuk.com/business/unity-acquires-cross-platform-game-voice-and-text-chat-service-vivox |archive-date=22 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2019, the company confirmed a $150 million Series E funding round that increased its valuation to $6 billion. In July that year, it announced that together with [[D1 Capital Partners]], [[CPP Investment Board]], Light Street Capital, [[Sequoia Capital]] and [[Silver Lake Partners]], it would fund a $525 million tender to allow Unity's common shareholders to sell their shares in the company.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matney |first1=Lucas |title=Unity, now valued at $6B, raising up to $525M |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/25/unity-now-valued-at-6b-raising-up-to-525m/ |website=Tech Crunch |date=26 July 2019 |access-date=4 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804060053/https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/25/unity-now-valued-at-6b-raising-up-to-525m/ |archive-date=4 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unity Technologies additionally purchased game analytics company [[deltaDNA]] in September 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-09-20-unity-acquires-deltadna |title=Unity acquires deltaDNA |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=20 September 2019 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |access-date=30 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930151940/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-09-20-unity-acquires-deltadna |archive-date=30 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> which was later reported at a value of $53.1 million.<ref name="VentureBeat August2020" /> The company continued their acquisitions by buying live game management platform ChilliConnect in October 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/03/unity-acquires-live-game-management-platform-chilliconnect/ |title=Unity acquires live game management platform ChilliConnect |first=Mike |last=Minotti |date=3 October 2019 |website=[[VentureBeat]] |access-date=3 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003203448/https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/03/unity-acquires-live-game-management-platform-chilliconnect/ |archive-date=3 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 3D application streaming service Furioos creator Obvioos in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-11-01-unity-acquires-cloud-video-streaming-service-creator-obvioos |title=Unity acquires cloud application streaming service creator Obvioos |first=Rebekah |last=Valentine |date=1 November 2019 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |access-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105145701/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-11-01-unity-acquires-cloud-video-streaming-service-creator-obvioos |archive-date=5 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, Unity paid $48.8 million to acquire [[Artomatix]],<ref name="VentureBeat August2020" /> a company that develops an AI-assisted material creation tool called ArtEngine.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 March 2020|title=Artomatix joins Unity, bringing AI-assisted artistry to material creation workflows - Unity Technologies Blog|url=https://blogs.unity3d.com/2020/03/10/artomatix-joins-unity-bringing-ai-assisted-artistry-to-material-creation-workflows/|access-date=11 March 2020|website=blogs.unity3d.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kerr|first=Chris|title=Unity acquires AI-driven art software company and ArtEngine maker Artomatix|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/359351/Unity_acquires_AIdriven_art_software_company_and_ArtEngine_maker_Artomatix.php|access-date=11 March 2020|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=10 March 2020|language=en}}</ref> Despite growing revenues of $541.8 million, Unity also posted growing losses of $163.2 million.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz August2020">{{cite web|last=Sinclair|first=Brendan|date=24 August 2020|title=Unity prepping an IPO|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-08-24-unity-prepping-an-ipo|access-date=19 January 2021|website=GamesIndustry.biz|publisher=|quote=}}</ref>
The company's IPO filing revealed that they reported losses of over $162.3 million in 2019, and have consistently lost money since its founding in 2004. Despite the losses, the company has consistently grown in terms of revenue and employee numbers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sinclair|first=Brandon|date=25 August 2020|title=What did we learn from the Unity IPO filing?|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-08-25-what-did-we-learn-from-the-unity-ipo-filing|access-date=29 June 2021|website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>
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Unity announced its plans to offer an [[initial public offering]] (IPO) in August 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-08-24-unity-prepping-an-ipo | title = Unity prepping an IPO | first = Brendan | last= Sinclair | date = 24 August 2020 | access-date = 18 September 2020 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }}</ref> At the time, the company reported 1.5 million monthly users, with 150,000 new projects started daily.<ref name="VentureBeat August2020" /> The company completed its IPO on 17 September 2020 at a total of {{USD|1.3 billion}}, above its target price, and started trading as a public company on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] under the ticker {{NYSE|U}} on the following day. The IPO gave Unity an estimated value of {{USD|13.7 billion}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-unity-software-ipo/unity-sells-shares-in-1-3-billion-u-s-ipo-above-target-range-idUKKBN2683E2 |title = Unity sells shares in $1.3 billion U.S. IPO above target range | first1 = Joshua | last1 = Franklin | first2 = Anirban | last2 = Sen | date = 18 September 2020 | access-date = 18 September 2020 | publisher = [[Reuters]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Shannon Liao|title=Unity Software shares surge 44% in Wall Street debut as IPO market sizzles|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/tech/unity-ipo-video-games/index.html|access-date=18 September 2020|website=CNN|date=18 September 2020}}</ref>
In December 2020, Unity announced the acquisition of the [[multiplayer]] networking framework, MLAPI,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://blogs.unity3d.com/2020/12/03/accelerating-unitys-new-gameobjects-multiplayer-networking-framework/| title = Accelerating Unity's new GameObjects multiplayer networking framework| date = 3 December 2020| access-date = 15 December 2020| language = en}}</ref> and RestAR, a [[computer vision]] and [[deep learning]] company.<ref>{{cite
In a cash and shares deal Unity acquired [[Weta Digital]] for $1.63 billion in November 2021. Unity added the "Wellington-based company's 275 engineers to its workforce". The latter's visual special effects and animation teams "will continue to exist as a standalone entity", becoming Unity's "largest customer in the media and entertainment space". WetaFX remains majority owned by [[Peter Jackson]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sweney |first1=Mark |title=Peter Jackson sells special effects studio Weta Digital for $1.63bn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/10/peter-jackson-sells-special-effects-studio-weta-digital-for-almost-2bn |website=The Guardian |access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref>
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In August 2022, [[AppLovin]] made an unsolicited offer to buy Unity in exchange for $17.54 billion in an all-stock deal. The proposed merger would result in the former Unity CEO John Riccitiello becoming the former CEO of the combined entity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/applovin-proposes-combination-with-unity-software-11660052115|title=AppLovin Proposes $17.5 Billion Deal to Buy Unity Software|website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=August 9, 2022 |first=Connor |last=Hart |url-access=limited}}</ref> AppLovin's bid excludes ironSource, that Unity agreed to buy in July.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/applovin-unity-video-game-consolidation |title=AppLovin bids $17.5 billion to acquire game engine company Unity |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |date=August 9, 2022 |first=Kia |last=Kokalitcheva}}</ref> Later that month, Unity's board rejected the offer and committed to complete its acquisition of ironSource.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/unity-software-rejects-applovins-1754-bln-takeover-offer-2022-08-15/ |title=Unity rejects AppLovin's takeover bid, to stick with ironSource buyout |date=August 15, 2022 |work=[[Reuters]] |first1=Nivedita |last1=Balu |first2=Krystal |last2=Hu |first3=Eva |last3=Mathews}}</ref> The IronSource merger was completed in November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Bryant |last=Francis |date=2022-11-07 |title=Unity's Marc Whitten explains what comes after the IronSource merger. |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/what-s-next-for-unity-after-the-ironsource-merger- |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Game Developer |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2023, Unity announced changes to its pricing model, introducing new Unity Runtime Fees, which charges developers based on installs past a certain threshold, depending on their Unity plan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unity plan pricing and packaging updates |url=https://blog.unity.com/news/plan-pricing-and-packaging-updates |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Unity Blog |publisher=Unity Technologies |language=en}}</ref> These changes were met with negative reactions from the developer community, with many expressing dissatisfaction and concerns regarding the increased financial burden as a result of the new pricing structure, including possible damages from inaccurate installation count estimates or malicious actors, as well as fee thresholds applying retroactively.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=2023-09-13 |title=Unity clarifies new fee plans amid developer backlash |language=en |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unity-clarifies-new-fee-plans-amid-developer-backlash |access-date=2023-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wales |first=Matt |date=2023-09-12 |title=Unity reveals plans to charge per game install, drawing criticism from development community |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/unity-reveals-plans-to-charge-per-game-install-drawing-criticism-from-development-community |access-date=2023-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=2023-09-13 |title=
On October 9, 2023, Unity announced that Riccitiello would be leaving the company amid controversy, appointing [[Jim Whitehurst|James M. Whitehurst]] as interim CEO and president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2023-10-09 |title=John Riccitiello is out at Unity, effective immediately |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/9/23910441/unity-ceo-president-john-riccitiello-out-retire |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=2023-10-09 |title=John Riccitiello steps down as CEO of Unity after pricing battle |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/john-riccitiello-steps-down-as-ceo-of-unity-after-pricing-battle/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}</ref>
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== Unity engine ==
{{Main|Unity (game engine)}}
Unity's eponymous platform is used to create two-dimensional, three-dimensional, virtual reality, and augmented reality video games and other simulations.<ref name="Unityat10" /><ref name="RiccitielloQ&A" /> The engine originally launched in 2005 to create video games,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Laura Kate |date=6 July 2015 |title=Unity – does indie gaming's biggest engine have an image problem? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/06/unity-indie-gamings-biggest-engine-john-riccitiello |url-status=live |access-date=17 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621105542/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/06/unity-indie-gamings-biggest-engine-john-riccitiello |archive-date=21 June 2018}}</ref> and was later marketed to other industries, including film and car manufacturing.<ref name="Liptak" /><ref name="Edelstein"/> In September 2022, Unity added server-hosting and game matchmaking services to Unity Software’s suite of tools,<ref>{{Cite
{{As of|2020}}, Unity-made applications were used by 2 billion monthly active users, with 1.5 million monthly creators.<ref name="TheVerge Aug2020">{{cite web |title=Unity's IPO filing shows how big a threat it poses to Epic and the Unreal Engine |last1=Hollister |first1=Sean|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/24/21399611/unity-ipo-game-engine-unreal-competitor-epic-app-store-revenue-profit |date=24 August 2020 |access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref> It supports more than 25 platforms, and has been used to create approximately half of mobile games on the market and 60 percent of augmented reality and virtual reality content,<ref name="Bonfiglio" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Most Innovative Companies: Unity Technologies |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/company/unity-technologies |work=[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]] |date=2018 |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927024813/https://www.fastcompany.com/company/unity-technologies |archive-date=27 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> including approximately 90 percent on emerging augmented reality platforms, such as [[Microsoft HoloLens]], and 90 percent of Samsung Gear VR content.<ref name="NewRealities" /> According to ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'', Unity "dominates the virtual reality business".<ref>{{cite news |title=This company dominates the virtual reality business, and it's not named Oculus |last1=Gaudiosi |first1=John |url=http://fortune.com/2015/03/19/unity-virtual-reality/ |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=19 March 2015 |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003433/http://fortune.com/2015/03/19/unity-virtual-reality/ |archive-date=5 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Why Valve's Partnership With Unity Is Important to Virtual Reality |last1=Gaudiosi |first1=John |url=http://fortune.com/2016/02/11/valves-partners-with-unity/ |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=11 February 2016 |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208121257/http://fortune.com/2016/02/11/valves-partners-with-unity/ |archive-date=8 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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