Unity’s First Game in 20 Years Launches as Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive
▼ Summary
– Unity, known for its game engine, developed its own game, Survival Kids, marking its first game in 20 years after focusing solely on engine development.
– Unity Studio Productions aimed to production-verify the entire game development process internally to improve the Unity engine for its users.
– The project partnered with Konami to revive the Survival Kids IP, aligning with trends in cozy survival co-op games and leveraging Konami’s indie collaboration strategy.
– Survival Kids was developed using Unity 6, testing features like Adaptive Probe Volumes and multiplayer tools, while prioritizing stability over showcasing every new engine feature.
– Unity’s goal with Survival Kids was not commercial success but to validate and improve its engine, with future projects focused on production-verifying broader engine capabilities.
Unity has made gaming history by releasing its first internally developed title in two decades – a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive called Survival Kids. This marks a significant shift for the company best known for powering thousands of third-party games through its ubiquitous engine. The project comes from Unity Studio Productions, a previously low-profile division that typically assists external developers with technical challenges.
The decision to create an original game stems from Unity’s desire to thoroughly test its technology from start to finish. Andrew Dennison, head of Unity Studio Productions, explains that building a complete product provides invaluable insights that short-term consulting work simply can’t match. “When we help other studios, we might only examine specific aspects like optimization,” he notes. “Developing our own game lets us validate every step of the pipeline.”
Interestingly, this isn’t Unity’s first foray into game development. The company originally launched as Over The Edge Entertainment in 2004, releasing a single title called GooBall before pivoting to engine development. The lessons from that early experience directly shaped what would become the Unity engine used by millions today.
For its modern gaming experiment, Unity partnered with Konami to revive the cult-classic Survival Kids franchise, originally a Game Boy Color series called Stranded Kids in Europe. The collaboration made strategic sense – Konami has been actively working with smaller teams to breathe new life into dormant IP, while Unity gained access to established intellectual property with built-in fan appeal.
Development began in early 2023 with a core team of about 20 based in Stratford-upon-Avon, strategically located near both Konami’s European headquarters and Nintendo’s UK office. While the project initially took a platform-agnostic approach, the emerging details about Nintendo’s next-generation console made it the obvious target. “The Switch 2’s capabilities aligned perfectly with our vision,” Dennison reveals. “It became clear this should be a launch title.”
The game serves as more than just a nostalgic revival – it’s a comprehensive stress test for Unity 6. Rather than creating a flashy tech demo, the team focused on implementing practical features that real developers would use, including advanced lighting systems and multiplayer infrastructure. “We wanted to mirror the actual development process our customers experience,” Dennison emphasizes. “That means dealing with budgets, timelines, and technical risks just like any other studio.”
One standout feature is full support for Nintendo’s GameShare technology, allowing wireless multiplayer with only one copy of the game. Unity optimized this functionality to run at a consistent 60fps, creating a reference implementation for other developers working with Unity 6 on Switch 2.
While commercial success would benefit Konami, Unity’s primary goal remains engine improvement rather than sales figures. The company has already launched a Production Verification Program to extend these testing methodologies to partner studios. As for future internal projects? “We’ll evaluate what approach best serves our engine development goals,” Dennison says, though he personally hopes to helm another game project.
This venture demonstrates Unity’s commitment to understanding developer needs from the inside out. By walking in their customers’ shoes, the engine creator gains firsthand knowledge that could shape tools and workflows for years to come. Whether through more internal projects or expanded partnerships, this production verification approach seems poised to influence Unity’s development philosophy moving forward.
(Source: Games Industry)
