Unity Develops Its First Game in 20 Years as a Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive

Unity, a widely used game engine, has made a notable appearance in the recently released game Survival Kids on Nintendo Switch 2. This time, however, the Unity logo is not just a sign of the engine being used, but also a badge of the company's own game development efforts. Andrew Dennison, head of Unity Studio Productions, shared the story of how this project came to be, highlighting the company's shift from solely focusing on engine development to creating its own game. Unity's origins date back to 2004, when it was founded as Over The Edge Entertainment, and developed its first game, GooBall, using an early version of the Unity engine. The experience gained from building GooBall contributed to the widespread adoption of Unity, but the company hasn't developed a game in 20 years, instead focusing on supporting the engine and helping other developers succeed. The decision to develop a game now stems from the desire to production-verify the entire game development process, from concept to release, using Unity's own engine. This approach allows the company to test its engine in a real-world scenario, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring that the engine is robust and reliable. The partnership with Konami to develop Survival Kids, a classic IP, was a strategic move, as it aligned with the company's goals and provided an opportunity to showcase Unity 6 features. The game's development began before the release of Unity 6, and the team had to manage technical risks and balance the use of new features with the need to deliver a polished game. As a result, Survival Kids utilizes features like Adaptive Probe Volumes and GameShare, which enables wireless multiplayer streaming across multiple devices. The game's development has also allowed Unity to test its engine on the Nintendo Switch 2, ensuring that the engine is optimized for the console. While making a commercial hit is not the primary goal for Unity Studio Productions, the company is committed to continuing its production verification efforts, potentially through future game development projects or other engagements. The recent launch of the Production Verification program, which partners Unity with studios to test its technology in live projects, demonstrates the company's dedication to improving its engine and supporting the game development community.