When Your CTO Pulls an Irish Goodbye
In yet another plot twist for Unity Technologies, Steve Collins, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, has officially stepped down after just six months on the job. That’s not a typo. Six. Months. The man barely had time to choose a screensaver.
Collins cited “personal reasons” for his sudden departure, and while we respect the classic PR cloak, the timing couldn’t be more eyebrow-raising. Unity has been in the pressure cooker for over a year now, and this is just the latest executive to nope out.
Unity’s Rollercoaster: A Quick Recap
Let’s rewind. Unity kicked a hornet’s nest back in 2023 with its proposed Runtime Fee policy—a per-install charge that had devs from indie to AAA reaching for their pitchforks. The backlash was swift, chaotic, and loud enough to send then-CEO John Riccitiello packing.
Since then:
- Unity reversed course (kind of) on the fee
- Layoffs hit hard: 25% of staff, aka 1,800 people, were let go
- Morale reportedly tanked faster than Unity’s stock
- Multiple execs have made hasty exits
And now? CTO Steve Collins is the latest name to join that exit list.
So Who Was Steve Collins, Anyway?
Before his brief Unity stint, Collins was CTO at King (you know, the Candy Crush empire). He also co-founded Havok and Kore, so the guy’s not just a tech suit—he’s got real gaming chops. That made his hiring a glimmer of hope for Unity’s frazzled engineering team.
Now? That glimmer’s gone. The leadership vacuum continues.
What This Means for Unity (and You, Devs)
Unity needs stability like a low-spec mobile game needs FPS optimization. Collins leaving adds more turbulence at a time when developers are still side-eyeing Unity’s every move.
If you’re a dev wondering whether Unity is still a safe bet for your next project, well, the vibes are still…mixed. Unreal Engine’s probably feeling pretty smug right now.
What’s Next?
Unity says it remains “confident in its technology leadership” and plans to keep evolving. But confidence only gets you so far when your leadership squad keeps hitting the eject button.
The stock took a minor dip after the news, suggesting that investors are getting twitchy too. And honestly, who can blame them?
TL;DR: Unity Can’t Catch a Break
- Steve Collins is out as CTO after 6 months
- He joined during Unity’s post-Runtime-Fee recovery arc
- His departure continues a trend of exec exits
- Devs and investors alike are watching closely
Your move, Unity. Maybe fix your engine—and your org chart.
What do you think: Is Unity circling the drain or staging a comeback arc? Would you still build your dream game on it? Sound off in the comments or tell us your worst Unity bug story.
