ReportGame Developer Collective
Tools & Services Survey: November 2024
1 Nov 202421 pages~8 min full read
Market sentiment is increasingly negative, with 55% of developers describing current conditions as 'bad' and 41% of studios reporting underperformance against expectations.
Unity continues to lose market share following its 2023 runtime fee controversy, with 36% of its users still planning to switch engines compared to only 14% for competitors.
Brand trust in Unity remains damaged, as only 30% of developers report being happy with the company despite the reversal of its controversial fee policy.
Studios are prioritizing efficiency and productivity in their purchasing decisions, with AI-powered tools being the only category seeing increased spending compared to traditional services.
Blender has become the dominant 3D modeling tool, currently utilized by 50% of surveyed studios.
Cloud infrastructure adoption is at an all-time high, led by AWS, though these services remain highly 'sticky' with very low intent among developers to switch providers.
Specialized backend platforms have low market penetration, with only 38% of studios currently utilizing centralized solutions.
This analysis examines the evolving landscape of game development tools and services amidst a period of significant market volatility. Based on a November 2024 survey of the Game Developer Collective, the findings track shifts in engine preference, cloud infrastructure, and overall industry sentiment. The survey includes a global sample of developers, with 48% based in North America and 39% in Europe, primarily representing roles in programming, management, and game design.
A primary focus is the game engine market, which continues to react to Unity’s 2023 "runtime fee" controversy. Despite Unity eventually scrapping the fee, the company has steadily lost market share to Unreal Engine. While the percentage of Unity users planning to switch engines dropped from a peak of 70% in late 2023 to 36% in late 2024, this remains significantly higher than the 14% switch rate seen among users of competing engines. Sentiment toward Unity has moderated, but only 30% of developers report being happy with the company, suggesting a lasting impact on brand trust.
The broader industry environment is characterized by increasing financial pressure and underperformance. Approximately 55% of developers now describe market conditions as "bad," a notable increase from 47% six months prior. Business performance has also declined, with 41% of studios reporting they are underperforming against expectations. Consequently, while investment in tools remains steady for most, there is a growing emphasis on productivity and efficiency as the primary drivers for new purchases. AI-powered tools are a rare area of growth, with studios more likely to increase spending in this category compared to traditional services.
In specialized segments, Blender has emerged as the leading 3D modeling tool, used by 50% of studios. Cloud platform usage is at an all-time high, led by AWS and non-hyperscaler options, though these services remain highly "sticky" with low intent to switch providers. Conversely, specialist backend platforms struggle with low penetration, as only 38% of studios currently utilize these centralized solutions. Overall, the findings depict a cautious industry prioritizing efficiency and stability while navigating a difficult commercial climate.
