As many of you know, Unity is a multiplatform video game engine created by Unity Technologies, which is available as a development platform for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux. This engine is used in many Nintendo Switch titles. Well, we get some very interesting news related to this company.
It has been revealed that Unity Technologies to buy the technical assets of Peter Jackson’s visual effects company Weta Digital, which has won multiple Academy and BAFTA awards over the past decades. These are the details that have been shared:
- The two companies have reached a final agreement whereby Unity will acquire Weta Digital’s proprietary technology for $ 1,625 million, and the purchase will be made through a combination of cash and shares.
- The deal splits Weta in two; the half that Unity acquired will continue to be called Weta Digital and it is essentially the technological “asset” of the original Weta. However, Peter Jackson will continue to control his visual effects business, a separate company now known as WetaFX.
- Weta Digital’s Prem Akkaraju will become CEO of WetaFX, while Weta’s CTO Joe Marks will join Unity to oversee Weta Digital.
- Unity will also benefit from Weta’s 275 engineers and take on the company’s proprietary technology, which includes the firm’s cloud service and tools, such as the ‘Manuka’ and ‘Gazebo’ renderers, the hair and fur system. ‘Barbershop’, the physics-based simulation tool ‘Loki’ and its face capture technology.
- In discussing the agreement, Jackson had the following to say:
Weta Digital tools created limitless possibilities for us to bring to life the worlds and creatures that originally lived in our imaginations. Together, Unity and Weta Digital can create a path for any artist, in any industry, to take advantage of these incredibly creative and powerful tools. Giving aspiring creatives access to Weta Digital technology will be a game changer and Unity is the ideal company to bring this vision to life. “
- Unity President and CEO John Riccitiello added:
We are thrilled to democratize these industry leading tools and bring the genius of Sir Peter Jackson and the incredible engineering talent of Weta to the lives of artists around the world.
- The deal is expected to close before the end of 2021.
What do you think?
Via.
