The next iteration of the Unity engine, Unity 5, is available for pre-ordering sometime today at the Unity store.
The new version features include a completely new audio toolset, improved lighting, and a physics-based shader system. It will also be a native 64-bit system.
Unfortunately, at the moment, we don’t know much else about it. We don’t even know when it will actually drop today, if it is today at all. Polygon’s article on the new engine now comes up with a 404 error, the reason isn’t clear yet. A cached snippet of the article from the unity gossip forums reads as follows:
“Unity 5 — billed as “a massive update” to the multiplatform game engine and toolkit — was unveiled today at Game Developers Conference 2014.
Unity Technologies, makers of the suite, said Unity 5 will overhaul the game’s audio toolset and deliver upgraded lighting and and a physically based shader system. It now is a 64-bit engine with this release, Unity Technologies added.Of note, Unity 5 will also include the launch of a cross-promotion network for mobile games called Unity Cloud, “enabling mobile game developers to run full-screen interstitial ads in their mobile games, as well as exchange ad units with other Unity developers.”
The last full version, Unity 4 launched two years ago. Unity supports development on all mobile OSes, plus Windows, MacOS and Linux, the PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360 and Wii U. Games developed with Unity range from acclaimed indie titles like Gone Home, to mobile hits like Temple Run, to the upcoming Wasteland 2 on PC.”
Overall, it seems to be a pretty major change to the engine. Hopefully more details will come about specific features and pre-ordering.
Last Updated: March 18, 2014
Gerhard Davids
March 18, 2014 at 12:36
Hopefully, complete and native 2D support will be added.
Emu
March 18, 2014 at 21:07
What is wrong with the current 2D system?
Gerhard Davids
March 18, 2014 at 21:47
It’s not remotely as intuitive and sleek as working with 3D in unity.
Emu
March 18, 2014 at 21:58
Hm. I mostly used Unity for 2D games and have to say the 2D mode makes it much easier because you don’t have to care about that damn z position. Although I haven’t used the native sprite system yet, just for simple UI mockups. Unitys 2D mode + Toolkit2D makes a pretty nice workflow, though.
Gerhard Davids
March 18, 2014 at 22:03
Thanks for your comments. Ill have to spend more time with it again it seems.
ToshZA
March 18, 2014 at 12:36
Lovely. I’ve just started getting into Unity 4.0 and they release a new version…
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 18, 2014 at 13:38
Same here ffs
Corrie Botha
March 18, 2014 at 13:40
There’s so much to still learn in unity, but loving it thanks to the countless tutorials online, so much better than battling in gamemaker on simples views and scaling plus I’m useless at 2D art ,blender’s atleast easier.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 12:44
rofl @ alt text.
ToshZA
March 18, 2014 at 12:45
I didn’t even notice. LOL
Stephen Snook
March 18, 2014 at 13:39
Thank you for reading the alt text 🙂
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 12:50
Really would love to learn unity.
Hammersteyn
March 18, 2014 at 12:53
One day….
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 12:55
Could be today..
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 12:57
http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.13702558.5792/flat,550×550,075,f.u3.jpg
Corrie Botha
March 18, 2014 at 13:44
1.http://cgcookie.com/unity/cgc-courses/crash-course-learn-unity/
The main outline of unity , this is where you start then follow the other sites for more tutorials
2.http://cgcookie.com/unity/
Then checkout SpeedTutor and Brackeys on youtube ( can’t link since it starts showing video previews here)
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 13:46
Thanks for the links man, much appreciated.
Corrie Botha
March 18, 2014 at 16:27
No problem, Was thinking LG should have an article on starting a Indie Studio In south Africa clueless as to who or what I need in order to get it up (tax wise,Studio trademark, those little things etc).
InsanityFlea
March 18, 2014 at 13:00
I’ll leave the game creations to professionals :p
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 18, 2014 at 13:38
Gad damn…was getting into 4.0 now a new version is out. I really liked how they streamlined 2D game creation in 4.0
Stephen Snook
March 18, 2014 at 13:40
Seems to be the sentiment all around.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 18, 2014 at 14:14
Yeah it’s really awesome. So They tailor made and ‘environment’ for 2D space, quite awesome
Labey-Kun
March 18, 2014 at 13:49
I might have a look into this. but for now UDK is doing the job for 🙂
Dr Alukard PhD
March 18, 2014 at 17:15
Unity really is amazing. If you want to dev mobile games (for andriod, iOs, windows etc…). Look at this platform. I am not a coder, but the scripting and scene creation are really easy. I like the 2D environment, which is mainly just a camera position in 3D space (it makes layout a breeze). I run 4.3 which is a bit buggy (can crash a bit and sometimes GUI elements fail to show), but I made this over a weekend
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-za/store/app/retro-doric/86675c70-3949-4c38-83a0-a04f3e645708
And got it on the windows store. If I can do it anyone can. I am working on adding more UI elements and a sound track – all really very easy to do.