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What is Unity?

Unity is a game engine for making 2D and 3D games for PC, mobile, consoles, and the web.

Game engine. Updated by DATAL Projects

Made by
Unity Technologies
First released
2005
License
Proprietary, with a free plan
Written in
C++ core, C# scripting
Type
Game engine
Official site
unity.com

What Unity is

Unity is a game engine for making 2D and 3D games for PC, mobile, consoles, and the web. It supports many platforms from one project and has a large asset store and community.

Unity was created by a small company in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded by David Helgason, Joachim Ante and Nicholas Francis. It was first shown in 2005 as an engine for Mac. The goal was to make game development possible for small teams that could not afford the expensive engines of the time.

Unity added Windows support and then mobile support, and it became a common choice for mobile and indie games. The Asset Store opened in 2010. The company went public in 2020. In 2023 it announced a per-install fee that many developers objected to, and it cancelled that fee in 2024.

How Unity works

A Unity game is made of scenes. A scene is one level or screen. Inside a scene you place GameObjects, which are empty containers. A GameObject does nothing until you add components to it. A component gives it one ability, such as a Transform for position, a Mesh Renderer to be visible, a Collider to be solid or a Rigidbody to obey physics.

You write your own components in C#. A script is usually a class that extends MonoBehaviour. Unity calls special methods on it for you, such as Start once at the beginning and Update once every frame. Values you mark as public or serialized show up in the Inspector window, so you can tune them without editing code.

A prefab is a saved GameObject that you can reuse, such as an enemy or a coin. Change the prefab and every copy updates. When the game is ready, you pick a target platform in the build settings and Unity produces a build for it. The same project can be built for several platforms, though each one needs testing and some adjustment.

Key features of Unity

  • Many target platforms

    One project can be built for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, the web, consoles and VR and AR devices.

  • 2D and 3D tools

    Unity includes sprite tools, tilemaps, 2D physics and animation alongside its 3D features.

  • Asset Store

    A large marketplace of models, tools, shaders and full systems, both free and paid. It can save a lot of time on common needs.

  • C# scripting

    Game code is written in C#, a widely used language with strong editor support in tools like Visual Studio and Rider.

  • Render pipelines

    The Universal Render Pipeline targets a wide range of devices, and the High Definition Render Pipeline targets high-end hardware.

  • Large community

    There are many tutorials, courses, forum answers and code samples, which makes it easier to get unstuck.

When to use Unity

A good choice for

  • Mobile games for Android and iOS
  • 2D and 3D indie games for PC and consoles
  • VR and AR apps
  • Interactive 3D apps such as training tools and product viewers
  • Teams that want to buy ready-made assets and tools

Pick something else when

  • Teams that require a fully open source engine
  • Very small 2D games where a lighter engine would be simpler
  • Projects aiming for top-tier film-quality graphics with little setup
  • Games meant to live inside Roblox or a similar platform

Unity compared with alternatives

Unity vs Godot

Godot is free and open source, with a small download and no licensing terms to track. Unity has more third-party assets, more tutorials and more mature console and mobile support. Godot is a strong pick for 2D and smaller games, while Unity suits teams that need its ecosystem.

Unity vs Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is built for high-end 3D graphics and uses C++ and Blueprints. Unity uses C# and is often seen as easier to start with, and it is more common in mobile games. Both can make most kinds of games, so the choice often depends on the team's skills and the visual target.

Unity vs Roblox Studio

Roblox Studio publishes only to Roblox and includes hosting and multiplayer. Unity builds a standalone game that you publish and host yourself. Unity gives more freedom, and Roblox Studio gives a faster path to an online game with players.

How to start learning Unity

  1. 01Install Unity Hub from unity.com and use it to install a recommended editor version.
  2. 02Work through a beginner pathway on Unity Learn, the official free learning site.
  3. 03Learn the basics of C#, including variables, methods, classes and the Start and Update methods.
  4. 04Build a small complete game, such as a 2D platformer or a roll-a-ball game, with a start screen and a win condition.
  5. 05Make a build for your own computer or phone and share it with someone to test.

What Unity costs

Unity has a free plan for individuals and small teams that earn below a set revenue limit. Larger companies need a paid subscription per seat. Check the official pricing page for the current plans and limits, because they have changed over time.

How DATAL Projects uses Unity

Unity is part of our game development work in the Philippines. Common uses:

  • Mobile and PC games
  • Interactive 3D apps
  • Prototypes

Common questions about Unity

Is Unity free?

Unity has a free plan that covers most beginners, students and small studios. Once your revenue or funding passes a limit, you need a paid plan. Check the official pricing page for the current terms.

What language does Unity use?

Unity uses C# for scripting. The engine itself is written mostly in C++, but you do not need C++ to make a game.

Is Unity hard to learn?

Unity is beginner friendly compared with many engines, and there are a lot of free tutorials. Expect a few weeks to feel comfortable with the editor and C# basics, and much longer to finish a full game.

Unity vs Unreal Engine: which should I use?

Pick Unity if you prefer C#, target mobile, or are making a 2D or stylized game. Pick Unreal Engine if you want high-end 3D visuals and are comfortable with C++ or Blueprints. Both are capable, so team experience matters most.

Can you make money with Unity?

Yes. Many commercial games on mobile, PC and consoles are made with Unity. You keep your sales revenue, subject to the plan you are required to be on and the fees of the stores you sell through.

Need a project built with Unity?

Tell us what you need. We reply with a scope, a price, and a timeline.

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