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Megapublisher signs multiyear licensing deal with middleware provider for unified development tools on all major platforms.

With Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 dominating the market, it's not often that another third-party middleware developer makes a headline. However, Unity Technologies has gained a big-time client to elevate its position in the middleware community, announcing this week that it has signed a multiyear licensing deal with Electronic Arts.

Tiger Woods Online was EA's first, but not last, Unity-powered game.

As part of the deal, EA will use Unity's development platform with an unspecified number of franchises, spanning multiple genres. Further, the deal allows EA's entire stable of studios to make use of Unity's full suite of tools, as they develop games on platforms that range from the Web browser to "consoles and beyond." According to EA, a primary reason for licensing Unity was its ability to quickly and easily convert content from one platform to another.

While starting a new long-term agreement, unity, and EA is really working since 2008 on the Web browser-based golf simulator Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. Launched in April 2010, Tiger Woods Online is free to play, microtransaction supported the party in a long golf franchise. Developed by EA Tiburon, online games started with 10 local golf courses, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, TPC Sawgrass, and the Sheshan Golf & CC.

Currently, the Unity platform is able to create content for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Web.

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