News

Unity scores $400 million investment from equity firm Silver Lake

Values developer at $2.6 billion

Date Type Companies involved Size
May 24th, 2017 investment Unity Technologies $400m
Unity scores $400 million investment from equity firm Silver Lake

Game engine outfit Unity has raised $400 million in funding from California-based private equity firm Silver Lake.

As reported by Bloomberg, the investment values Unity at $2.6 billion. The company had been shopping around for investors before reaching an agreement with Silver Lake.

The funding will be used both as a safety net for the company as it expands, and to allow early investors and employees to cash out if they so desire.

Let them buy cars

"A big chunk of it is secondary and that’s because it makes sense to let employees buy cars," said Unity CEO John Riccitiello.

"In terms of primary capital we don’t ultimately need all that primary capital - the capital is safety when we're investing to grow as fast as we are."

Riccitiello also believes that the renewed interest comes from its tools being at the forefront of VR and AR. He previously stated that around 70% of AR and VR content currently released has been made in Unity.

The company itself is looking to expand on its VR domination by branching outside of games. Part of this strategy has seen the firm looking to triple the number of its employees in India.

In July 2016 Unity raised $181 million in a series C funding round from DFJ Growth, China Investment Corporation, FreeS Fund, Thrive Capital and Max Levchin.


Editor

Ric is the Editor of PocketGamer.biz, having started out as a Staff Writer on the site back in 2015. He received an honourable mention in both the MCV and Develop 30 Under 30 lists in 2016 and refuses to let anyone forget about it.