Metaplay’s new Starter plan lets devs use same backend infrastructure as games like Merge Mansion

• Metaplay is enabling devs using Unity to launch online games on its customisable backend SDK.
• The Starter plan has released today, August 18th.

Finland-based Metaplay is enabling all devs using Unity to launch online games on its customisable backend SDK, starting today.

As of August 18th, 2025, developers in Metaplay’s new Starter plan can use the same infrastructure used by games like Metacore’s Merge Mansion, leveraging "battle-tested game servers" as Metaplay looks to lower the barrier to entry for more studios.

The company’s SDK includes a customisable C# game server, live ops capabilities in real-time, and full access to source code.

Tools and testing

The new Starter plan allows online deployments, small-scale testing and access to Metaplay’s love ops dashboard for what the company deems an "affordable" price: under €100 ($116.71) per month. A 50% discount is available for the first three months when shipping a game with this tech.

This new plan comes following the launch of the Metaplay Free plan this May, which includes a dashboard demo and a new CLI for integration and project management. It already gave developers access to the same backend tech as Merge Mansion, but only on a local basis.

"Too many developers have either been priced out of using top-tier backend solutions or pushed into black-box platforms that can’t grow with them. We believe great games deserve great tooling right from day one," said Metaplay co-founder and CEO Petri Kero.

"We want to give far more studios a genuine shot at competing with the biggest studios who’ve spent years and millions building their own backends.

"Earlier this year we pledged to be part of a Renaissance in gaming powered by accessible technology, and our new plans are now putting tech used by the biggest and best within reach of many, many more companies."

That games industry Renaissance refers to Metaplay’s January 2025 report, where the backend tech provider found 77% of respondents are optimistic about the industry this year.