Unity has revealed that its upcoming Unity 5.6 engine will be the last in its current release cycle.

The update is expected to launch in March 2017 and Unity aims to continue to keep 5.6 patched and updated for 12 months following its release.

The tech outfit has also outlined its plans for 2017, which includes a new naming convention for Unity engine releases. Instead of single-digits, future releases will be numbered 2017.x.

A brave new year

The change has been made to "clearly mark the end of the Unity 5 cycle" and signify its commitment to more regular updates.

Unity 2017 will bring further improvements to the core engine and a new Timeline feature tailored for artists. New platforms will also be added, including the upcoming Nintendo Switch.

The first beta of Unity 2017 is expected in April 2017. Unity subscribers will be given access to the new engine update as soon as it is available.