Spotify plans to raise subscription prices in several markets, including the UK, Australia, and Pakistan, with individual plans increasing by $1 per month and Duo and Family plans rising by $2. Additionally, a new "Basic" tier will be introduced, offering music and podcasts without audiobooks, priced at $11 per month. The company aims to generate higher revenue from audiobook consumption and is rumored to be working on a "Supremium" tier with 24-bit lossless audio and AI-generated custom playlists. These changes come as Spotify shifts its royalty payment model to be more artist-centric and seeks to drive $1 billion in revenue toward emerging and professional artists over the next five years.
Microsoft is introducing a consumption-based pricing model for its new security chatbot, Copilot for Security, charging $4 per "security compute unit." This model allows customers to buy what they need and easily adjust over time without friction. The chatbot, powered by generative AI, aims to help cybersecurity professionals understand critical issues and is designed to keep expenses low for organizations while scaling for power users. Other security software companies, such as CrowdStrike, are also exploring generative AI in their products, as cyberattacks continue to pose a growing threat.
Unity President and CEO John Riccitiello has announced his retirement after nearly nine years of leading the game engine company and becoming one of the most hated figures in gaming. The announcement comes after a revolt among top Unity developers over the company's plans to charge subscribed developers based on the number of game downloads. Jim Whitehurst, former president of RedHat, will be taking over as the new CEO. Despite attempts to appease developers with a revised pricing model, trust in Unity has been damaged, with some developers already announcing plans to switch to other engines. Riccitiello's tenure at Unity has been marked by controversy and criticism for his emphasis on monetization and micro-transactions in games.
The Boston Unity Group (BUG), a long-standing community of Unity developers, has announced its dissolution following Unity's controversial changes to its developer fees. BUG cited Unity's shift away from supporting developer communities and prioritizing profit as the reason for disbanding. Unity recently announced a new pricing model, called Runtime Fee, which would charge developers based on game installations and revenue thresholds. The decision sparked backlash from the game developer community, leading Unity to revise the plan. However, the loss of trust and dissatisfaction among developers remains evident, as seen in BUG's decision to shut down.
Unity's president, Marc Whitten, addressed the video game development community's concerns and questions about the company's new pricing model in a live fireside chat on YouTube. Whitten apologized for the flawed rollout and explained that the new runtime fee was intended to create a sustainable business model for Unity. The updated plan offers developers a choice between paying fees based on the number of new users or a flat percentage of revenue. Whitten also discussed the introduction of a revenue share program and addressed concerns about transparency regarding Unity's terms of service. However, it remains to be seen if these actions will be enough to regain the trust of the community.
Walt Disney World is introducing a park-specific pricing model for its Genie+ service, allowing guests to select a single-park or multiple-parks option based on their preference. The prices may vary between parks, with some parks having lower rates compared to others. The Genie+ service is a paid replacement for the Fastpass+ service, allowing guests to make reservations for popular attractions in an expedited queue known as the "Lightning Lane." The service can be purchased on the day of the visit or included in the vacation package. Not all attractions are included, and availability is not guaranteed.
ARK: Survival Evolved will be replaced by a remastered version named ARK: Survival Ascended on PS5 in August, but there will be no upgrade path for existing owners. The new version will cost $39.99 and will include content like The Island and Survival of the Fittest. The pricing model is complicated, with expansion packs sold separately and no reduced rate for those who already bought them on PS4. The remaster promises improvements like dynamic weather, interactive foliage, and cross-platform multiplayer, but the decision to shut down the original version and ask fans to rebuy it for a new console is controversial.
ARK: Survival Evolved will be replaced by a remastered version named ARK: Survival Ascended on PS5 in August, which will run on Unreal Engine 5 and include content like The Island and Survival of the Fittest. However, there won't be an upgrade path for existing owners, and the new version will cost $39.99. Expansion packs will be sold separately, and cross-platform multiplayer will be available. The pricing model is confusing, and the developer is shutting down the original version of the game, which doesn't sit well with fans.
