I was just wondering—why doesn’t Unity have its own in-app payment solution?
Instead of relying on Google Play, iOS, Meta, or Steam store payment systems, in-app payments could be handled directly by Unity.
This way, the percentage cut from each transaction wouldn’t go to third-party stores but to Unity instead.
Most of these stores take a 30% cut from each purchase. If Unity charged just under 20% (or even less), it could become an attractive option for developers.
Additionally, it would offer easier integration and create a new revenue stream for Unity.
I hope someone at Unity sees this and forwards it to the team.
I really need Unity stock to grow!
P.S. I know some stores don’t allow alternative payment solutions, but some do. And there are industries without stores—like health tech, for example—where this could make a significant impact. There’s a lot of money and opportunity!
We need to distinguish between payment processing (the act of transferring money to/from the user, verifying the purchase) and fullfilment (actual delivery of paid digital content).
Unity or anyone else could act as a payment processor. An example would be Paypal. The surchages for users of a payment processor are typically well below 10% (typically 2-5%) and may depend on the payment option used (credit card, direct debit, Paypal).
The fullfilment part however is where the providers keep these 30% cuts but also exclusivity. You cannot become a fullfilment provider for iOS Apps or Steam games because Apple and Valve handle this exclusively, all rights reserved.
Basically you’re asking Unity to become a digital distribution platform much like Steam and App Stores but they’d have to have developers also publish their apps through the “Unity App Store” and make some exclusivity deals as well in order to “soft force” users into signing up. They’d also have to provide such a system across all platforms Unity supports in the long term.
Highly impractical and the competition is stiff. Steam, GOG, Epic, Origin, practically every major game publisher has its own digital distribution platform. Unity were to become a competitor to the enterprises they support with their software.
if we can retrieve the purchase information, we can fulfill the orders by unlocking a consumable or permanent purchase within the app. As you mentioned, some stores don’t allow third-party payment solutions.
However, some do. Additionally, in VR, many apps for business or health tech don’t go through standard platforms. They are often distributed pre-installed on a fleet of devices managed through an MDM (Mobile Device Management) system.
There is no direct payment processing in such cases, but if Unity offered an option, I would prefer it over services like PayPal or Xsolla. This would centralize everything through Unity (remote content, analytics, payments, etc.).
