Gaming executive steps down following severe public outrage over pricing

John Riccitiello, the chief executive of game development tool Unity, has resigned following a controversial pricing change that angered gamers and developers. The company originally planned to charge studios each time a game using Unity's code was installed, which caused backlash. Although larger developers already pay a licensing fee to use Unity, the proposed change upset many users. Unity has since rolled back most of its plans and issued an apology. Riccitiello's retirement from the firm was announced promptly. Unity's game engine is widely used in popular video games and is especially favored by small studios due to its accessibility and wide adoption. The company's decision sparked concerns among developers and gamers about the financial impact on free-to-play games. Unity even had to evacuate its San Francisco offices due to a reported death threat on social media. This is not the first time Riccitiello has clashed with the gaming community; he previously had to apologize for making offensive remarks about developers who disagreed with his views on monetization. The reason for his sudden departure was not disclosed. Riccitiello joined Unity in 2013 after leaving Electronic Arts, where he served as CEO since 2007. Under his leadership, Unity went public in September 2020 with a valuation of $13.6 billion. However, the company's share price has since declined. Unity reported significant revenue growth, reaching $553 million in the three months ending on June 30. However, it remains unprofitable, with a recent pre-tax loss of $188.5 million. James Whitehurst, a former executive at IBM, will take over as interim CEO.