Unity to support Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8

The Unity games engine is to support Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, after an update to version 4 of the multiplatform tool.

The news emerged during the opening keynote of the Unite 12 Unity user conference.

“Our mission at Unity has always been to provide solutions for developers to effortlessly bring their work to as many different platforms as possible,” said David Helgason, CEO of Unity Technologies.

“The Unity community has been asking for access to Windows Phones and have been eagerly anticipating the release of Windows 8. We’re happy to announce that we will support both.”

Microsft senior director of Windows app marketing John Richards added: “We are excited that the Unity community will now be given the opportunity to develop world class titles for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

“The number of high quality Unity-authored games for the PC, Xbox, and mobile devices already created is staggering and we’re looking forward to seeing these products appear in the Windows Store and the Windows Phone Marketplace.”

While no date has yet been confirmed for the update to Unity 4 that will introduce Windows 8 support, Microsoft and the engine company are in talks as to scheduling a suitable release window ‘as soon as possible’.

Develop readers attending Unite 12 can attend a session where both Microsoft and Unity will discuss rolling out the support. The precise details of the session remain to be confirmed.