Unity president and CEO John Riccitiello is retiring from the company, as well as from his role as chairman and a member of the company board of directors, effective immediately. The company has appointed James Whitehurst as interim chief executive officer. Riccitiello is expected to “advise Unity to ensure a smooth transition” as Unity begins a “comprehensive search” for a new CEO, the company said in a press release announcing the move.
Riccitiello’s sudden retirement comes mere weeks after a massively unpopular move on Unity’s behalf to change its fee structure for its eponymous cross-platform game engine; its pricing would have included a new