Blog Post 1: Unity's New Pricing Model: A Challenge to Digital Citizenship and Equality
Written: September 17th 2023
Introduction and Unity's Broad Reach
After reviewing Ribble's 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship, a pressing current issue caught my attention regarding Unity Technologies. Unity is a technology company is more commonly known for it's game development engine. However, it is also used for medical simulations, architectural visualization, and even automotive design.
Unity's previous business model offered a flexible and accessible platform for a broad range of developers. However, Unity's has created a new pay-per-download pricing model which is set to take effect in Janurary 2024. I recognized that this new model poses significant challenges to digital citizenship, specifically in terms of access, equality, and ethical responsibility.
The Old vs The New Model
Unity's previous revenue-sharing system allowed for free usage for developers earning under $100,000 annually. Anyone above this limit, would need to purchase a Unity Pro subscription. This tiered approach was a fair deal for indie developers and professionals in other fields like healthcare and architecture.
In contrast, the new pricing model plans to charge a flat fee for every installation of a Unity-based application, once certain financial and download thresholds are crossed. This change disrupts the element of 'digital access,' which argues for equal digital opportunities for all, including those in sectors beyond gaming.
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Ethical and Social Implications
Instead of chargining a flat fee per installation, Unity's could have just updated their existing structure to reflect inflation or introduce additional service tiers. Instead, they have chosen a path that puts at risk 'digital commerce' and 'digital literacy.' Their decision will make it less profitable for small creators, upcoming developers and professional thus leading them to feel discouraged to adopt Unity's technology.
This impacts not just the gaming community but all sectors that depend on Unity's diverse and innovative solutions. The shift also resonates with the problem of neoliberalist ideologies, which often prioritize profit and market-driven solutions at the expense of social and economic equality.
The Need for Regulatory Intervention
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The new pricing model raises urgent questions related to the element of digital law which calls for regulations to ensure fairness and equality in digital interactions. There is a clear necessity for legislative measures to balance these complex issues. Without such, companies can easily monopolize and leave future creators with inequal opportunity to be successful. In addition, this change that Unity is pushing could set a worrisome precedent that influences other engines developers to follow suit in their model.
In summary, Unity's upcoming pay-per-download model is not just a financial restructuring; it raises concerns that challenge the ethical and social principles that form the bedrock of digital citizenship. These changes underscore the need for regulatory scrutiny to ensure that the digital landscape remains a space of equal opportunity, access, and ethical integrity for everyone involved.
