Attention all gaming enthusiasts and app developers! Have you heard of Apple’s Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA)? If not, it’s time to get educated on how this small piece of code can have a big impact on your Unity game. In this blog post, we will dive deep into what IDFA is, how it works, and most importantly, why you should care about it in relation to your mobile game development. So buckle up and let’s explore the world of IDFA together!
What is Apple’s IDFA?
Apple’s IDFA is a unique identifier that is assigned to each iOS device. This identifier is used by advertisers and measurement firms to track user activity and target ads. Apple introduced IDFA in 2012 with iOS 6.
IDFA allows advertisers to track user behavior and target ads based on specific interests. For example, if an advertiser knows that a user likes to play games on their iPhone, they may target them with ads for game apps. IDFA also allows measurement firms to track how often users see and click on ads.
Some Unity developers have expressed concern that Apple’s IDFA will adversely affect their games. However, it is important to note that IDFA only collects data on user behavior; it does not collect any personal information about the user themselves. As such, there should be no impact on game performance or player privacy.
How Does It Affect Your Unity Game?
If you’re a game developer using Unity, you’re probably aware of Apple’s IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers). IDFA is used by advertisers to track users across apps and websites for ad purposes. However, starting with iOS 14, Apple will require developers to get explicit user permission before tracking them with IDFA. This will have a major impact on how unity games are able to generate revenue through advertising.
Without IDFA, advertisers will no longer be able to track users across apps and websites. This means that they’ll be less effective at targeting ads, and unity games will see a decline in ad revenue as a result. There are a few ways to work around this, but they all come with trade-offs. For example, you could switch to another ad network that doesn’t rely on IDFA (such as Facebook’s Audience Network), but this would likely result in lower CPMs (cost per thousand impressions).
The bottom line is that Apple’s changes to IDFA will have a major impact on unity games that rely on advertising for revenue. If you haven’t already, now is the time to start thinking about how you’ll adapt your business model to survive in the post-IDFA world.
How to Disable IDFA in Your Unity Game
If you’re looking to disable IDFA in your Unity game, there are a few steps you’ll need to follow. First, open the Unity Editor and navigate to the “Player Settings” menu. Next, select the “Other Settings” tab and scroll down to the ” Identification” section. Here, you’ll see a checkbox next to the “Enable IDFA” option – simply uncheck this box and save your changes. That’s all there is to it! Your game will now be IDFA-free.
Alternatives to Disabling IDFA
There are a few alternatives to disabling IDFA that can help you continue to monetize your Unity game. One option is to use a server-side solution that doesn’t rely on IDFA, such as Amazon’s Server-Side Identifier (SSID) service. This solution allows you to still track user behavior and target ads, without relying on IDFA.
Another option is to use Apple’s SKAdNetwork API. This API allows you to track installs and attributions, without using IDFA. This solution is less robust than a server-side solution, but it may be a good option if you’re looking for a quick fix.
Finally, you could choose to do nothing and simply live with the fact that your game will be less profitable on iOS than it could be. This isn’t ideal, but it may be the best option if you’re not willing or able to make changes to your game at this time.
Conclusion
Apple’s IDFA is a powerful tool that can help developers manage their Unity games and ensure they are delivering the best possible experience to their players. By using this unique identifier, game devs can better understand player behavior, target ads more accurately, and measure campaigns accurately. While there will be some changes in how developers use IDFA going forward, it remains an important part of any developer’s toolkit when creating great games with Unity.
