How to start your journey with Unity
Are you interested in Unity and want to dive into game development? You’re in the right place!
Unity recently turned 18 years old and is one of the best and most reliable game engines out there!
Downloading Unity
First things first, head over to Unity’s website and click the Download for Windows or Download for Mac button, depending on your system. Once the download is complete, open the file and you’ll see Unity Hub
Here you can download unity: https://unity.com/download
What is Unity Hub?
Unity Hub is a launcher for all your Unity projects. It handles your Unity licence allows to manage multiple Unity versions and of course open your projects.
Let’s dive into how to use Unity Hub and download the version of Unity you need!
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Setting Up Unity Hub
When you first launch Unity Hub, you’ll need to log in with your Unity ID or create a new account.
Fill in the details, verify your email adres, and you are in! The next step is to activate your free Unity license - do this by just accepting the terms of service.
Installing the Unity Editor
Now, let’s install the Unity editor. Head to the installs tab and click install editor. You’ll see a list of Unity versions to choose from. If you're unsure which version you should install, go with Recommended version suggestion.
Choose version you want to download and click install. You can then optionally select additional build targets (Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android).
Once you’ve made your selections, click Install and let Unity Hub do its thing.
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Pro Tip: If you need more platforms later, click the settings icon next to your installed engine and select Add Modules to install additional packages.
Creating Your First Project
With the Unity editor installed, it is time to create your first project. Go to the Projects tab and click New Project. Choose your starting templates. I recommend to start with a 2D or 3D templates, but later on you can also explore other options like Unity Render Pipeline setups and even a crazy LEGO Microgame.
Name your project, set its location, and click Create Project. This will open the Unity editor, and you can start your game development journey!
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Advanced Tips
Here are some advanced tips to make the most of Unity:
- If you downloaded any Unity project from the internet, you can simply add it to Unity hub using Open option in the Projects tab
- If you're trying to open project created with older Unity version than you have installed, that's usually OK, but please remember to backup your files before doing that
- Opening project created in newer version than you have installed is not possible. To overcome that, go back to the Installs tab and install editor that has a smaller or the same version number than your project. (Unity may also suggest you to install correct Unity version while opening project)
- If you're joining a team of developers that are currently using some different Unity version that is not listed here, be sure to check out Archive tab and click Download archive. Here you can select practically any Unity version released in the last 8 years. Simply click this green Unity hub icon and you will be immediately asked to to install this version with its components
And that’s it! You’re all set to start your Unity adventure.
If you’re just getting started and want to learn more, check out my Unity Tutorials:
