I explored the Wolves' Den to learn more about Unity 6.
Den of Wolves is one of the first games to be revealed that uses Unity 6. I had the opportunity to talk with the developers at 10 Chambers to delve into the creation process.
Unity has faced a challenging year, especially following the wave of criticism that arose in September of last year due to the announcement of an installation fee for games developed with its engine. Before this controversy erupted, the company had already generated discontent among game developers, leading to a year-long struggle to try to regain the reputation it once had. Although the arrival of a new CEO and the cancellation of the controversial runtime fee are positive steps, there is still much to be done. However, this week, the company aims to shift its course with the launch of Unity 6, the first numbered update in nearly a decade.
Unity 6 symbolizes a new beginning, moving away from criticism and representing an effort to improve its image. To demonstrate the capabilities of its new technology, it is crucial for the company to present an exceptional game, and that game is Den of Wolves, the latest title from developer 10 Chambers Collective, known for its work on GTFO. This is one of the first games committed to using Unity 6, even though the team started development with an earlier version of the engine.
I interviewed Hjalmar Vikström, co-founder of 10 Chambers, and Ryan Ellis, VP of Product at Unity, to delve into what Unity 6 offers and the developers' perspectives on issues such as game optimization and generative artificial intelligence.
Vikström expressed surprise that their previous title, GTFO, was built in Unity, as this platform is not commonly associated with stunning graphics. However, Vikström noted that the speed and iteration capacity offered by Unity have been decisive factors for their team. Despite being an emerging group, Unity allowed them to effectively advance their vision since they could start projects with a low level of overhead.
Unity's flexibility was key for the team, as it allowed them to make significant technical changes, although they acknowledged having faced previous difficulties with physics optimization in earlier versions of the engine. With the arrival of Unity 6, graphical improvements have been a determining factor for 10 Chambers' decision to adopt this new version. The implementation of a high-definition rendering pipeline has facilitated the creation of enhanced quality graphics, helping Den of Wolves position itself as a game that, despite being developed in Unity, aspires to aesthetic competition with the major titles in the industry.
The team maintains that to truly optimize a game, it is crucial to integrate all departments, meaning artists and programmers, in a collaborative workflow. Despite the challenge this represents for larger teams, 10 Chambers is committed to prioritizing the optimization of Den of Wolves, although Vikström admits it will be complicated to achieve perfectly efficient performance by its early launch.
Generative artificial intelligence has also been a topic of discussion and concern for developers. While it can assist in repetitive tasks, both leaders agree that the creativity and vision of the developer remain essential. Although the use of AI tools can be advantageous, the originality that stems from human creativity is not easily replicable by a machine.
As Unity 6 establishes itself, this new chapter in the company's history and its game engine is expected to resonate within the developer community, representing not only a technical improvement but also a renewed effort to rebuild its reputation and regain the trust of a sector that has been skeptical.
