Unity cancels town hall, closes two offices after reported death threat

Unity has closed two of its offices and canceled a town hall after receiving a death threat, as reported by Bloomberg. This comes days after a controversial announcement that the company would require payment for every first-time game installation made using the engine.

A spokesperson for the company told Bloomberg that Unity has “taken immediate and proactive measures” to ensure employee safety. The offices will remain closed for Thursday and Friday at minimum, as the company works with law enforcement.

The changes were an unpleasant shock to developers, as messaging regarding fees was often unclear and in flux. A Unity representative later clarified what kind of download would require a fee, but the damage had been done. Smaller developers fear what this measure could have initially meant, and the company’s attempts at clarification don’t seem to have quelled fears.

The Austin and San Francisco offices were closed, per Bloomberg’s report.

Unity is already facing trouble due to what many see as a short-sighted decision, but that doesn’t warrant threatening employees. It’s unknown how long this investigation will last or if the offices will potentially remain closed into next week.