This is definitely one of the dumbest choices I've seen a company do.
Props to Unity for speeding up their own death.
You could theoretically write an 'install bombing' tool that sends fake install notifications straight to their server (or modify the game executable to do it repeatedly). You can't trust the client, especially when dealing with PC games.
Hopefully Unity will anticipate this potential abuse, and filter out repeated 'installs' from the same IP address. But they don't seem to have anticipated free demos, pirated copies, Game Pass, or charity bundles before announcing this...
> the same ip address
Unity confirmed that this is part of how they intend to do it. That's why the meme scripts so far make a point to cycle up addresses or use rotating proxies per install.
The other part of the methodology that unity confirmed is "proprietary internal models that can't be shared but are GDPR compliant". Somehow.
I wonder if this could be used as a way to target civilians as part of a larger cyber war, like in the Ukraine conflict?
It is an actual liability to use Unity, and there is no way to avoid it. Anyone can directly hurt them by simply installing a game multiple times on multiple devices. Bonus, developers can hurt other competing developers!
It is such an idiotic move it is criminal, and I am hoping that they get slapped with a class action lawsuit if they don't recede on it.
The worst part is that, even though I'd love for everyone to just switch over to Godot, game studios cannot simply "change engine" and they absolutely know it. So for them to just come up with completely unreasonable terms, with no possibility to not agree to it? You are forced to accept to give them an arbitrary amount of money that is spat out at the end of the month by a proprietary, closed source system that is basically BUILT IN MALWARE IN EVERY SINGLE UNITY GAME.
That's actual fucking robbery.
They can't simply force users to accept to give them 110% of your revenue, or else, AND expose them to direct damage while doing so. This cannot be legal.
Absolutely shameful. I seriously hope that no one will ever consider Unity again after this stunt.