Unity CEO David Helgason has revealed to PocketGamer.biz that existing Unity basic licensees won't be offered a refund now that the development engine has gone free on Android and iOS.
Rather, studios that purchased any basic add-ons during the 30 days before costs were wiped will be handed "discounts on future purchases", with eligible developers set to be contacted in a matter of weeks.
"Within the next two weeks, we'll be reaching out to those who purchased basic add-ons in the 30 days before they went free to offer discounts on future purchases," Helgason told us.
"But more fundamentally, in order to push forward, we sometimes have to change our license model.
"In 2009 we made our previous indie product free, and now we made more software free. We've never raised our prices along the way, and even current customers benefit from the new free features and deployment options. We think everyone wins."
'Radical'
Helgason told us that the decision to drop charges for the basic version of the engine on Android and iOS was part of the firm's "goal and hope to democratise game development and inspire developers by providing opportunities", adding that "there's nothing more radical than free."
"Unity is in a great position now and we are in a place as a company where we can push even further with our dream of democratising game development," he added.
"This move just made a lot of sense to us right now with the incredible excitement around mobile development.
"Unity wants to play a massive role in how the game industry is transforming and ultimately the more games out there that are built on Unity, the better the platform will become."
Expansion
As hinted at during Unite Nordic in Malmo, Sweden, Unity is looking to wipe costs for the basic version on other platforms in the near future, too.
"We announced that basic Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10 mobile tools will also be folded into the free version of Unity upon their release with all the same guidelines as what went live with iOS and Android today," said Helgason.
"Also as with iOS and Android, there will also be Pro versions of the deployment tools for those that want to take advantage of them.
"Our reach is already pretty spectacular in the mobile development market. this will enrich our community a lot, and it'll be even more fun for us to be around. That's a total win."
We've contacted Unity to clarify that compensation will take the form of future discounts rather than refunds.
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With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
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