Unity Ignites Shanghai with Unite 2025: “Tuanjie Engine” Accelerates Localized Innovation

Since its debut in China in 2012, the Unity Developer Conference Unite has become a vital annual event for Chinese developers to access cutting-edge technology and share innovative practices. From the initial introduction of Unity 4 to the full-scale adoption of the “Tuanjie Engine,” Unite has witnessed China’s game industry transform from a follower to a leader. To date, the Tuanjie Engine has surpassed 500,000 downloads, with thousands of applications successfully launched on local platforms like WeChat Mini Games, OpenHarmony, and smart cockpits, fostering a thriving digital content ecosystem.

During the keynote address, Zhang Junbo, CEO of Unity China, reflected on Unite’s decade-long journey in China and outlined its future strategic direction. He stated, “Over ten editions, Unity has evolved from an unfamiliar professional tool into a trusted creative partner for developers. As we enter this new phase, we solemnly make three commitments: First, to respond more flexibly to the Chinese market and address local developers’ needs promptly. Second, to deeply integrate AI capabilities, fully unleashing the potential of content creation. Third, to build a truly multi-platform engine technology, providing comprehensive support from AAA titles to lightweight mini-games. We are not just technology providers; we are partners in realizing developers’ dreams and co-builders of the industrial ecosystem.”

At the event, Unity China officially launched the Tuanjie Engine version 1.7.3, featuring comprehensive upgrades in core rendering, cross-platform deployment, and AI integration. Notably, the new version introduces TuanjieGI, the ecosystem’s first complete global dynamic real-time lighting solution, achieving console-level lighting effects without pre-baking and helping developers efficiently create cinematic visual experiences.

A key highlight was the joint launch of the AI Graph intelligent creation platform by the Tuanjie Engine and Tencent’s Hunyuan large model, marking a new phase of deep integration between AIGC and game development. This highly integrated workflow allows developers to directly leverage AI generation capabilities within the engine, significantly enhancing asset production efficiency and lowering development barriers.

The Smart Cockpit ecosystem, a key focus area for Unity China, was prominently featured in a dedicated automotive session. Unity China has now established deep collaborations with over 60 automakers, empowering more than 300 mass-production models and covering the complete cockpit evolution path from functional, to intelligent, to emotional experiences.

The Unity China team systematically explained its three-layer technical architecture of “Data-Driven + AI Agent + Engine Rendering,” demonstrating a full-process design methodology from virtual assistants to dynamic HMI interfaces. This provides the industry with a practical, scalable content solution for smart cockpits. The company also officially launched the Unity In-Vehicle Game Store, opening a new frontier for cockpit entertainment experiences.

Experts from FAW Bestune, Mercedes-Benz, Changan Automobile, Geely Auto, and Dongfeng Nissan shared innovative practices, including 3D HMI, panoramic intelligent ecosystems, and AI cockpit systems. During the strategic signing ceremony, Unity China formalized partnerships with Leapmotor and Horizon Robotics to jointly advance smart cockpit technology.

In gaming, Unity’s traditional stronghold, this year’s Unite showcased a complete picture from technical攻坚 to commercial closure.

Leading teams shared hands-on technical experiences in dedicated sessions: League of Legends: Wild Rift detailed mobile MOBA performance optimization; Love and Deep Space demonstrated high-performance physics framework application; Swordman World 4 explained cross-platform development for seamless open worlds; Jin Chan Chan Zhi Zhan explored UGC technical practices; and TownTown shared insights from deeply customizing the engine. These cases not only validate Unity’s technical capabilities but also provide key methodologies for rendering, memory management, and workflow.

In commercial empowerment, Unity China took a significant step forward. The “Qingyun Plan,” jointly launched by Tencent Advertising and Unity China during the Publishing & Growth session, offers developers full-chain services covering traffic support, operations, and monetization. Facing the mini-game market’s 99.2% annual growth rate and an estimated scale of RMB 60 billion by 2025, Unity China has built a full-lifecycle service system covering optimization, platform access, and AI empowerment.

As a new growth pole, mini-games are undergoing dual upgrades in performance and experience. The Tuanjie Engine showcased key updates, including support for Metal/Vulkan graphics APIs, helping developers break through performance bottlenecks and create smoother gaming experiences. A concurrent OpenHarmony development workshop provided step-by-step guidance for developers to quickly access the new ecosystem.

From technical breakthroughs to commercial success, and from traditional games to the new mini-game track, Unity China is building a developer ecosystem that balances technical empowerment with commercial achievement, aiding Chinese developers in securing a more critical position in the global competition.

Ten gatherings have collectively witnessed the growth of Chinese developers from learning and innovating to leading. The emergence of top-tier titles like Honor of Kings, Genshin Impact, and Honkai: Star Rail fully demonstrates the creative heights enabled by Unity technology. During the conference, Unity China illuminated the Magnolia Building on Shanghai’s Huangpu riverfront, paying tribute with light to every developer on the creative front lines.

Standing at this new ten-year starting point, Unity China will use the Tuanjie Engine as its core, joining hands with local developers to build a comprehensive innovation platform integrating technology, ecosystem, growth, and services. The tenth Unite is not just a milestone; it marks the beginning of a new journey to shape the future of real-time 3D content together with Chinese developers.