Unity Software Inc., doing business as Unity Technologies, is an American video game software development company based in San Francisco. Founded in Denmark in 2004 as Over the Edge Entertainment, the company has evolved into a leading force in the game development industry, best known for its licensed game engine, Unity.
History
The journey began when three co-founders – David Helgason, Nicholas Francis, and Joachim Ante – created Unity to "democratize" game development. By simplifying the process of creating 2D and 3D interactive content, they aimed to make it more accessible to developers worldwide. The company's early success was marked by the release of GooBall in 2005, which, although commercially unsuccessful, laid the foundation for the Unity engine.
As the iPhone emerged in 2007, Unity Technologies positioned itself as a leading game development platform for mobile devices. The company's dominance on the iPhone was largely uncontested for several years, making it an attractive option for developers looking to create mobile games.
Expansion and Innovation
Unity's growth accelerated with the release of new platforms. By 2018, the engine supported over 25 different platforms, including mobile, desktop, consoles, and virtual reality. The Unity Asset Store launched in November 2010 as a marketplace for users to sell project assets, further expanding the platform's capabilities.
In 2012, Unity reported having 1 million registered developers, with 300,000 actively using the engine monthly. By 2016, that number had grown to over 5.5 million registered users. The company's appeal lies in its ability to empower individuals without extensive programming knowledge to create games and simulations.
Facebook integrated a software development kit for Unity games in 2013, featuring tools for tracking advertising campaigns, deep linking, and in-game image sharing. This integration further solidified Unity's position as a leading game engine.
Acquisitions and Partnerships
Unity acquired Applifier, a Helsinki-based mobile service provider, in March 2014. The acquisition brought Everyplay, a replay-sharing and community service, into the Unity fold. Additionally, GameAds, a mobile video ad network, became Unity Ads. Later that year, Unity acquired Playnomics, a data analysis platform for developers, and Tsugi, whose continuous integration service became Unity Cloud Build.
In 2014, John Riccitiello replaced David Helgason as CEO, with Helgason remaining as executive vice-president. Unity Technologies also made inroads into virtual reality by supporting Chinese company AntVR and co-developing Legend of the Curse for the Jitao headset.
The success of Pokémon Go, built using the Unity engine, in 2016 led to several rounds of funding that increased the company's valuation. In 2017, Unity released its PC gaming platform, Facebook Gameroom, with Unity. The company also acquired Multiplay, a business offering multiplayer server game hosting, and worked with Google on ARCore to develop augmented reality tools for Android devices.
Today
With over 4,987 employees (as of 2024), Unity Technologies continues to be a driving force in the game development industry. Its commitment to innovation, accessibility, and collaboration has made it an essential tool for developers worldwide.