Unity's First Game in 20 Years: A Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive

The Unity engine is a ubiquitous presence in the gaming industry, but its appearance in Survival Kids is unique - this game was not only made with Unity, but also by Unity. Andrew Dennison, head of Unity Studio Productions, discussed the project's origins with GamesIndustry.biz. Unity's roots date back to 2004 when it was founded as Over The Edge Entertainment, which released its first and only game, GooBall, in 2005. The experience gained from developing GooBall contributed to the widespread adoption of Unity. However, the company shifted its focus to supporting the engine and facilitating the success of other developers, putting its own game development on hold for 20 years. The question arises as to why Unity has decided to develop a game now, and why it chose to establish a production studio in the UK. Dennison explained that Unity Studio Productions has existed in some form, providing development support and product verification for the engine. Nevertheless, this approach had limitations, as the company only had a narrow window to work on specific aspects of a game. The ambition to build an entire game from start to finish drove the decision to develop Survival Kids. This project allowed Unity to production-verify its engine, testing its capabilities and identifying areas for improvement. The partnership with Konami to revive the Survival Kids IP was a strategic move, as the series' concept aligned with the current gaming trends. The development team, which peaked at around 20 people, was built in Stratford-upon-Avon, with assistance from other Unity teams worldwide. The proximity to Leamington Spa, a hub for game development, and Konami Europe's office in Windsor, facilitated smooth communication and collaboration. The decision to release Survival Kids on the Nintendo Switch 2 was driven by the console's features, which aligned perfectly with the game's development. Although the game was not designed to showcase every feature of Unity 6, it leverages new tools such as Adaptive Probe Volumes and Lobby and Relay tools. The development process was designed to emulate the experience of Unity's customers, with considerations for budget, timelines, and technical risks. As a third-party developer, Unity was able to test its engine on the Nintendo Switch 2, utilizing features like GameShare for wireless multiplayer. The success of Survival Kids is not a priority for Unity, as the primary goal is to production-verify the engine and improve its capabilities. The company's future plans for game development are uncertain, but the Production Verification program, which partners Unity with studios to test its technology, is a key initiative. Ultimately, Unity's focus remains on developing its engine, and the company will evaluate the best approach to production-verify its technology in the future.