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Unity Technologies ApS
FormerlyOver the Edge Entertainment (2004–2006)
Company typePrivate
IndustryComputer software, Interactive entertainment
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004) in Copenhagen, Denmark
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
,
U.S.
Key people
ProductsUnity game engine
ServicesUnity Certification, Unity Collaborate, Unity Asset Store, Unity Ads, Unity Cloud Build, Unity Analytics, Unity Everyplay (2012-2018), Unity Multiplayer, Unity Performance Reporting[1]
Number of employees
2,000+ (2018)[2]
Websiteunity3d.com

Unity Technologies ApS is a video game software development company based in San Francisco, California. It is best known for the development of Unity, a licensed game engine used to create video games and other applications. It was founded in Denmark in 2004 as Over the Edge Entertainment.[3][4]

History

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Founding and early success with the iPhone (2004 to 2008)

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Unity Technologies was founded as Over the Edge Entertainment in Copenhagen in 2004 by David Helgason (CEO), Nicholas Francis (CCO), and Joachim Ante (CTO).[3][4] Over The Edge Entertainment released its first game, GooBall, in 2005.[4] The game failed commercially, but the three founders saw value in the game development tools that they created to simplify game development, and so they shifted the company's focus to create an engine for other developers.[3][4][5]

The company sought to "democratize game development" and make development of 2D and 3D interactive content accessible.[6] Unity was named the runner-up for Best Use of Mac OS X Graphics at the 2006 Apple Design Awards.[7] The company grew with the 2007 release of the iPhone, as Unity Technologies produced one of the first engines supporting the platform in full.[8][9] Because the games industry was focused on console games when the iPhone and App Store were released, Unity was positioned to support developers looking to create mobile games.[10][11] Its dominance on the iPhone was largely uncontested for a couple years.[8]

New platforms and expansion (2009 to 2018)

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The technology was developed for different platforms.[8] By 2018, Unity was used to make games and other experiences for more than 25 platforms, including mobile, desktop, consoles, and virtual reality.[12][13] Unity games can also be deployed on the Web.[13][12]

The Unity Asset Store launched in November 2010 as an online marketplace for Unity users to sell project assets (artwork, code systems, audio, etc.) to each other.[14]

In April 2012, Unity reportedly had 1 million registered developers, 300,000 of whom used Unity on a monthly basis.[15] In May of the same year, a survey by Game Developer revealed that approximately 53% of mobile game developers were using Unity.[16] By 2016, the company reported more than 5.5 million registered users.[17] Part of Unity's appeal is that it allows people who lack the technical knowledge to program games from scratch to create games and other simulations.[8]

Facebook integrated a software development kit for games using the Unity game engine in 2013.[18] 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.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20][21]

In October 2014, Helgason announced in a blog post that he would be stepping down as CEO with John Riccitiello, Electronic Arts' former CEO, replacing him. Helgason remained with the company as executive vice president.[22][23]

Software developer Niantic released Pokémon Go, which was built using Unity engine, in 2016.[24] Following the success of Pokémon Go, Unity Technologies held several rounds of funding that increased the company's valuation: In July 2016, a $181 million round of funding valued the company at approximately $1.5 billion;[24] in May 2017, the company raised $400 million that valued the company at $2.8 billion;[25] and in 2018 Unity's CEO confirmed a $145 million round that valued the company at approximately $3 billion.[26] Also in 2016, Facebook developed a new PC gaming platform with Unity.[27][28] In 2017, Unity Technologies acquired Multiplay, a business that offers multiplayer server game hosting, from retailer Game for £19 million.[29]

Unity Technologies released the Unity 2017 version of its platform in 2017.[30] Unity worked with Google on ARCore in 2017 to develop augmented reality tools for Android devices and apps.[31] The following year, Unity Technologies worked with Google Cloud to offer services for online game developers and Alphabet Inc. subsidiary DeepMind Technologies to develop virtual world artificial intelligence.[32] The Unity platform is used to help machines through reinforced learning.[32] According to Fast Company, DeepMind uses Unity software to train algorithms in "physics-realistic environments", where a computer will continually try to achieve a goal through trial and error.[32]

The use of Unity Technologies software expanded beyond games in the 2010s, including film and television and automotive.[33][34][35] For the automotive industry, carmakers use Unity's virtual reality platform for design and virtual world car testing simulations.[35] In October 2018, Unity Technologies acquired Digital Monarch Media, a Canadian virtual cinematography company.[36]

Unity Technologies created the Unity Icon Collective in November 2018.[37] The team creates AAA-quality assets for sale in the Unity Asset Store for PC and consoles.[38] 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.[39]

The company acquired cross-platform voice and text chat provider Vivox in January 2019.[40] The Framingham, Massachusetts, company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Unity Technologies, but operates independently.[40] Vivox's technology is used in Fortnite, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and League of Legends, among others.[40] Terms of the deal were undisclosed.[41]

Corporate affairs

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Unity Technologies is a private company based in San Francisco, California.[42] As of 2018, the company employed more than 2,000 people in offices across North America, Europe, and Asia.[2][12] It is overseen by a board of directors.[43] John Riccitiello is CEO, replacing company founder and former CEO David Helgason in 2014.[44] Danny Lange, who has a history of work on machine learning for IBM,[45][46] Microsoft,[47] Amazon Web Services, and Uber,[48][49] is vice president of artificial intelligence and machine learning, a post he has held since late 2016.[50] Unity Technologies named its first independent directors in 2017. Riccitiello said the move was needed if the company intended to go public in the future.[51] According to TechCrunch, Unity Technologies had raised more than $600 million in funding and was valued at about $3 billion by 2018.[52] Its investors include Sequoia Capital, Draper Fisher Jurveston, Silver Lake, China Investment Corporation, FreeS Fund, Thrive Capital, WestSummit Capital, and Max Levchin.[25][24] Revenue streams include licensing fees for its game engine, its Unity Asset Store, and the Unity platform.[53][54]

In 2017, Unity Technologies launched Unity Without Borders, which sponsored 50 video game programmers from the Middle East to attend Unity's Unite Europe conference in Amsterdam.[55] Unity Without Borders sponsored video game programmers affected by travel restrictions by President Donald Trump's administration.[55]

Unity engine

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Main article: 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.[8][26] The engine originally launched in 2005 to create video games.[56] As of 2018, it supports more than 25 platforms. As of 2017–2018, the platform has been used to create approximately half of mobile games on the market and 60 percent of augmented reality and virtual reality content,[2] including approximately 90 percent on emerging augmented reality platforms, such as Microsoft HoloLens, and 90 percent of Samsung Gear VR content.[11] Unity technology is the basis for most virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, and Fortune said Unity "dominates the virtual reality business".[57][58][59] In the 2010s, Unity Technologies used its game engine to transition into other industries using the real-time 3D platform, including film and automotive.[33][35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Unity - Services". Unity Technologies. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Bonfiglio, Nahila (1 October 2018). "DeepMind partners with gaming company for AI research". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Takahashi, Dean (16 October 2014). "Unity Technologies CTO declares the company isn't up for sale". VentureBeat. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Illummont, Brooke (9 October 2017). "Unity Technologies Gets a $400 Million Investment". Inside Scandinavian Business. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  5. ^ Cook, Dave (18 October 2012). "Unity interview: engineering democracy". VG24/7. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference McWhertor-Riccitiello was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Smykil, Jeff (9 August 2006). "Apple Design Award winners announced". Ars Technica. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e Axon, Samuel (27 September 2016). "Unity at 10: For better—or worse—game development has never been easier". Ars Technica. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  9. ^ Matney, Lucas (13 July 2016). "Unity raises $181M monster round at a reported $1.5B valuation". TechCrunch. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  10. ^ Chng, Grace (28 January 2013). "Asia is 'a game changer'". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  11. ^ a b Matney, Lucas (25 May 2017). "With new realities to build, Unity positioned to become tech giant". TechCrunch. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Kelliher, Fiona (24 August 2018). "Video game company grabs two buildings on Mission Street for big expansion". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  13. ^ a b Robertson, Adi (3 March 2015). "Unity officially releases its new game engine: Unity 5". The Verge. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  14. ^ Elliott, Phil (10 November 2010). "The Unity Asset Store". GameIndustry.biz. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Unity Technologies marks one million developers for its game development tools". Polygon.
  16. ^ "Mobile game developer survey leans heavily toward iOS, Unity". Gamasutra. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  17. ^ Matney, Lucas (13 July 2016). "Unity raises $181M monster round at a reported $1.5B valuation". TechCrunch. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  18. ^ a b Cohen, David (1 November 2013). "How Facebook Integrated With The Unity Game Engine". Adweek. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Unity to acquire Everyplay creator Applifier". Pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Unity Technologies Bulks Up On Utilities With Acquisition Of Playnomics". Forbes.com. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Unity details new Cloud Build service; opens Unity Austin". Forbes.com. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  22. ^ Riccitiello, John (23 October 2014). "John Riccitiello sets out to identify the engine of growth for Unity Technologies (interview)". VentureBeat (Interview). Interviewed by Dean Takahashi. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  23. ^ "John Riccitiello is New Ceo at Unity". IGN. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  24. ^ a b c Wingfield, Nick (13 July 2016). "Unity Technologies, Maker of Pokémon Go Engine, Swells in Value". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  25. ^ a b Winkler, Rolfe (23 May 2017). "Videogame Software Startup Unity Is Valued at $2.8 Billion". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  26. ^ a b Takahashi, Dean (15 September 2018). "John Riccitiello Q&A: How Unity CEO views Epic's Fortnite success". VentureBeat. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  27. ^ Cohen, David (19 August 2016). "Facebook Developing New PC Gaming Platform; Teams Up With Unity Technologies". Adweek. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  28. ^ Constine, Josh (1 November 2016). "Facebook officially announces Gameroom, its PC Steam competitor". TechCrunch. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  29. ^ Dring, Christopher (28 November 2017). "Unity buys GAME's Multiplay Digital business for £19m". Gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  30. ^ Alvarez, Edgar (28 February 2017). "Unity's '2017' game engine will focus on artists and designers". Engadget. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Most Innovative Companies: Unity Technologies". Fast Company. 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  32. ^ a b c Captain, Sean (26 September 2018). "How Google's DeepMind will train its AI inside Unity's video game worlds". Fast Company. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  33. ^ a b Liptak, Andrew (30 November 2017). "How Neill Blomkamp and Unity are shaping the future of filmmaking with Adam: The Mirror". The Verge. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  34. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (9 August 2018). "Disney Television Animation Launching 'Big Hero 6'-Themed Shorts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  35. ^ a b c Edelstein, Stephen (17 May 2018). "How gaming company Unity is driving automakers toward virtual reality". Digital Trends. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Daily Deals: Mergers and Acquisitions for Oct. 25, 2018". Fortune. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  37. ^ Takahashi, Dean (15 November 2018). "Unity Icon Collective gives indie devs access to triple-A game art". VentureBeat. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  38. ^ Takahashi, Dean (15 November 2018). "Unity Icon Collective gives indie devs access to triple-A game art". VentureBeat. Retrieved 27 November 2018. 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
  39. ^ Takahashi, Dean (15 November 2018). "Unity Icon Collective gives indie devs access to triple-A game art". VentureBeat. Retrieved 27 November 2018. 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.
  40. ^ a b c Fogel, Stefanie (29 January 2019). "Unity Technologies Acquires Voice And Text Chat Provider Vivox". Variety. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  41. ^ Blake, Vikki (31 January 2019). "Unity acquires cross-platform game voice and text chat service, Vivox". MCVUK. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  42. ^ Loizos, Connie (23 May 2017). "Unity, whose software powers half of all new mobile games, lands $400 million from Silver Lake". TechCrunch. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  43. ^ Berger, Sarah (25 April 2018). "These are the 10 tech companies with the most diverse boards". CNBC. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  44. ^ McWhertor, Michael (22 October 2014). "Former EA CEO John Riccitiello is now head of Unity". Polygon. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  45. ^ "Applets with attitude". The Economist. 15 May 1997. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  46. ^ McKay, Niall (16 September 1998). "Java Jumping Out of the Box?". Wired. Condé Nast. ISSN 1059-1028. OCLC 24479723. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  47. ^ Eaton, Nick (26 February 2010). "Microsoftie's daughter, 16, skis in Winter Olympics". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Communications. ISSN 0745-970X. OCLC 3734418. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  48. ^ Løck, Sten (30 April 2018). "Danish startup Corti uses AI to save people from cardiac arrest". Business Insider. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  49. ^ Matney, Lucas (7 December 2016). "Unity poaches Uber's machine learning head to tackle AI in AR/VR". TechCrunch. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  50. ^ Captain, Sean (20 March 2018). "Here's How to Avoid More Self-Driving Car Deaths, Says Uber's Former AI Chief". Fast Company. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  51. ^ Takahashi, Dean (10 August 2017). "Unity adds Max Levchin and Robynne Sisco to board as it readies for IPO". VentureBeat. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  52. ^ Matney, Lucas (7 September 2018). "Fast-growing game engine startup Unity loses its CFO". TechCrunch. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  53. ^ Etherington, Darrell (21 May 2013). "Unity Game Engine Goes Free For iOS, Android And BlackBerry 10 Developers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  54. ^ Takahashi, Dean (2 August 2017). "Zynga picks Unity Technologies to provide ads across its games". VentureBeat. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  55. ^ a b Takahashi, Dean (8 March 2018). "Unity Without Borders sponsors game developers affected by Trump's travel ban". VentureBeat. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  56. ^ Dale, Laura Kate (6 July 2015). "Unity - does indie gaming's biggest engine have an image problem?". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  57. ^ Gaudiosi, John (19 March 2015). "This company dominates the virtual reality business, and it's not named Oculus". Fortune. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  58. ^ Gaudiosi, John (11 February 2016). "Why Valve's Partnership With Unity Is Important to Virtual Reality". Fortune. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  59. ^ "Most Innovative Companies: Unity Technologies". Fast Company. 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
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