Unity's Sole Internal Game on Nintendo Switch currently is Survival Kids 2
In a surprising move, Unity, the renowned game development software provider, has ventured into in-house game creation with the launch-exclusive title, Survival Kids, on the Nintendo Switch 2. This ambitious project, developed by Unity Studios Productions, a division of Unity, is set to showcase the capabilities of Unity's technology directly in game development.
Established in the United Kingdom in 2022, Unity Studios Productions, led by Andy Dennison, has a primary focus on ensuring the engine is ready for the launch of new platforms like the Switch 2. The team, composed mostly of veterans from Codemasters, Playground Games, and Rare, has been working closely with the Nintendo platform team for GameShare development.
Survival Kids, a game from the Survival Kids series, is optimized for features like GameShare and GameChat, two new features on the Nintendo Switch 2. GameShare allows one player to invite up to three other Switch and Switch 2 users to their game session without installing additional software. The game also features an emote system designed to boost in-game socialization and cooperation, similar to that used in Riot Games' upcoming tag-team fighting game 2XKO.
Unity nearly began making games with its own software in 2022 with the game Gigaya, but the project was canceled. However, Unity Studio Productions' foray into game development with Survival Kids marks a significant step in Unity's expansion into this field. The division's objective is clear: to demonstrate the versatility of Unity's engine and creation tools in the realm of game development.
Despite Unity's prior aversion to developing games with its own engine, Survival Kids was developed in-house by Unity, pushing and optimizing the Unity engine to its limits. This move signals Unity's commitment to supporting developers using its engine, even on new platforms like the Nintendo Switch 2, as seen in Unity's development of Survival Kids to prepare other developers for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Unity Studio Productions teamed up with Konami to develop Survival Kids, which was completed in a relatively quick two-year period. Neither Konami nor Unity relied on the success of Survival Kids to prop up their financials, suggesting a collaborative effort driven by innovation rather than commercial gain.
As for Unity Studio Productions' history and purpose in the development of Survival Kids for the Nintendo Switch 2, details are scarce. However, it is clear that this division of Unity is exploring in-house game development, with Survival Kids being Unity's only in-house game for now. Whether Unity Studio Productions will consider developing original games again under the right circumstances and opportunities remains to be seen.
In summary, Unity's debut game, Survival Kids, marks an important step in Unity's expansion into in-house game development. Leveraging its own technology, Unity is set to create engaging gaming experiences, demonstrating the versatility of its engine and tools in the realm of game development.
Unity Studios Productions, the newly established division of Unity, is utilizing Unity's technology to develop games, showcasing the versatility of the engine in the realm of in-house game creation. The division's first game, Survival Kids, optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2, integrates features like GameShare and emotes, demonstrating the compatibility of Unity's technology with cutting-edge gadgets and technology.
