Unity (game engine) facts for kids
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| Developer(s) | Unity Technologies |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1.0 / June 8, 2005 |
| Stable release |
6000.0.53f1 (LTS) /
July 9, 2025 |
| Preview release |
Unity 6000.2.0b10 (Beta)
6000.3.0a2 (Alpha) / July 16, 2025 July 17, 2025 |
| Written in | |
| Platform | See § Supported platforms |
| License | Proprietary software |
Unity is a powerful game engine created by Unity Technologies. It helps people make video games and other interactive experiences. It was first shown in June 2005 for Mac computers.
Over time, Unity grew to support many different devices. These include desktop computers, mobile phones, game consoles, and even augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) systems. It is very popular for making games on iOS (Apple devices) and Android phones. Many new game creators and indie game developers find Unity easy to use.
You can use Unity to create both 3D (like games where you move around in a world) and 2D (like side-scrolling games) projects. It is also used for interactive simulations. Beyond games, Unity is used in movies, cars, buildings, and engineering.
Contents
How Unity Started
| 2005 | Unity 1.0 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | |
| 2007 | Unity 2.0 |
| 2008 | |
| 2009 | |
| 2010 | Unity 3.0 |
| 2011 | |
| 2012 | Unity 4.0 |
| 2013 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | Unity 5 |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | Unity 2017 |
| 2018 | Unity 2018 |
| 2019 | Unity 2019 |
| 2020 | Unity 2020 |
| 2021 | Unity 2021 |
| 2022 | Unity 2022 |
| 2023 | Unity 2023 |
| 2024 | Unity 6 |
Unity 1.0: Making Games Easier (2005)
Unity launched in 2005 with a goal to make game development open to more people. It was first shown at a big Apple event in 2005 for Mac computers. The next year, Unity won an award from Apple for its graphics. It later added support for Microsoft Windows and web browsers.
Unity 2.0: Adding More Features (2007)
Unity 2.0 came out in 2007 with about 50 new features. It added support for DirectX, which helps with graphics. This version also brought better 3D environments, real-time shadows, and video playback. A system for teamwork was added, making it easier for developers to work together. It also allowed creators to make multiplayer games. When Apple launched its App Store in 2008, Unity quickly added support for the iPhone.
Unity 3.0: Expanding Graphics (2010)
Unity 3.0 launched in September 2010. It added more advanced graphics features for computers and game consoles. It also added support for Android devices. This version included tools for better lighting, tree editing, and sound effects. By 2012, many developers were using Unity to create games for various platforms.
Unity 4.0: New Animation Tools (2012)
In November 2012, Unity 4.0 was released. This version added support for DirectX 11 and new animation tools called Mecanim. It also gave access to a preview version for Linux users. In 2013, Facebook added tools for games made with Unity. This helped developers track ads and share game content more easily.
Unity 5: Better Lighting and Web Games (2015)
Unity 5, released in 2015, made big improvements to lighting and audio. It allowed developers to put their games on web browsers using WebGL, so players did not need extra plugins. Unity 5.0 brought real-time global lighting and a new audio system. It also added Cinematic Image Effects to make games look more unique. Unity started offering an experimental version for Linux in 2015. Unity 5.6 added support for Nintendo Switch, Facebook Gameroom, and Google Daydream. It also included a 4K video player for 360-degree videos in virtual reality.
Some people felt that Unity's ease of use led to many quickly made games on platforms like Steam. However, the former CEO, John Riccitiello, believed this showed Unity's success in making game creation open to everyone. He wanted more people, even high school students, to be creators, not just consumers.
Annual Releases: Continuous Improvements (2017–2023)
In 2016, Unity changed its naming system to use the year of release, so Unity 5.6 was followed by Unity 2017.
- Unity 2017 brought tools for real-time graphics, color grading, and building game worlds. It also added tools like Timeline for animations and Cinemachine for smart camera systems.
- Unity 2018 introduced Scriptable Render Pipelines for high-quality graphics. This included the High-Definition Rendering Pipeline for consoles and PCs, and the Universal Render Pipeline for mobile and VR/AR. It also added machine learning tools.
- Unity Hub, launched in 2018, made it easier to manage different Unity versions and projects.
- By 2020, games made with Unity were running on over 1.5 billion devices. Unity stated that its engine powered 50% of all mobile games. Famous games like Pokémon Go and Call of Duty Mobile use Unity.
- In 2020, Unity introduced tools for augmented reality (MARS) and for car design (Forma). Unity Editor also started supporting Apple Silicon computers.
- Unity 2021 added visual scripting (Bolt), a new multiplayer library, and improved performance. It also brought full support for Apple Silicon.
- Unity 2022 focused on making developers more productive. It improved loading times and file imports. For 2D games, it made core software, animation, and physics faster.
Unity 6: New AI Tools (2024)
On November 16, 2023, Unity announced that the next version would be called Unity 6. This brought back the older numbering style. Unity 6 launched on October 17, 2024. It included new generative AI tools called Unity Muse and Unity Sentis. This version also improved online multiplayer creation, web project performance, and graphics.
Unity had planned to introduce a new fee based on how many times a game was installed. However, after many developers expressed concerns, Unity canceled this fee in September 2024.
Key Features
Unity lets users create games and experiences in both 2D and 3D. The main way to program in Unity is using C#. You can also use drag and drop features.
For 2D games, Unity can import sprites and has an advanced 2D world renderer. For 3D games, it allows detailed settings for textures and graphics on different platforms. It supports advanced lighting, shadows, and visual effects. There are different ways to render graphics, like High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) and Universal Render Pipeline (URP).
Creators can also make and sell game assets to other developers through the Unity Asset Store. This store, launched in 2010, has 3D models, 2D art, and environments. By 2018, there were about 40 million downloads from the store.
Devices Unity Supports
Unity is a cross-platform engine, meaning it works on many different devices. The Unity editor itself runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The engine can build games for over 19 different platforms. These include mobile phones, computers, game consoles, and virtual reality devices.
As of 2025, Unity 2022.3 LTS officially supports:
- Mobile: iOS, iPadOS, Android (Android TV), tvOS
- Desktop: Windows (Universal Windows Platform), Mac, Linux, ChromeOS
- Web: WebGL (for games in web browsers)
- Consoles: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
- Virtual/Extended Reality: Oculus, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2, Google's ARCore, Apple's ARKit, Windows Mixed Reality (HoloLens), Magic Leap, and via Unity XR SDK Steam VR, Google Cardboard.
Unity used to support other platforms like Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone 8. Unity was the main software kit for Nintendo's Wii U console.
In August 2023, Unity China announced a special Chinese version called Tuanjie Engine. It supports Chinese platforms like Weixin Mini Game and OpenHarmony.
How Unity is Used
In Video Games
Unity is used in many popular games. Some examples from 2020 include Pokémon Go, Monument Valley, Call of Duty: Mobile, Beat Saber, and Cuphead.
By 2018, Unity was used to create about half of all mobile games. It also powered 60% of augmented reality and virtual reality content. This included about 90% of content on new AR platforms like Microsoft HoloLens. Many virtual reality experiences use Unity technology.
In Machine Learning
Unity helps researchers train deep reinforcement learning programs. These programs can act like virtual characters or robots. They learn how to interact with simulated real-world environments. This software is used to develop things like robots and self-driving cars.
In Other Industries
In the 2010s, Unity started to be used in other industries beyond games. These include film and automotive.
- Filmmaking: Unity experimented with filmmaking using a short film called Adam. Later, Unity worked with filmmaker Neill Blomkamp to create computer-generated short films using Unity's tools. Disney also used the Unity engine to create backgrounds for the 2019 film The Lion King.
- Automotive: Car makers use Unity to create full-size virtual models of new cars. They also build virtual assembly lines and train workers.
- Architecture, Engineering, and Construction: Unity is also developing solutions for these fields.
- Artificial Intelligence: Unity's engine is used by Google DeepMind, an Alphabet company, to train artificial intelligence.
Unity's Mascot
On December 16, 2013, Unity Technologies Japan introduced an official mascot character. Her name is Unity-chan, and her real name is Kohaku Ōtori. Her game data was released in early 2014. Unity-chan was designed as an open-source heroine character. The company allows people to use Unity-chan in their own projects under certain rules. For example, Unity-chan appears as a playable character in the game Runbow.
See also
In Spanish: Unity (motor de videojuego) para niños
- List of game engines
- List of WebGL frameworks
