A Beginner's Guide to UE5: Setting Up a Project & Creating Basic Assets

Introduction

Unreal Engine 5, the latest iteration of the widely popular game development software, has been making waves since its release. This powerful toolset, created by Epic Games, enables developers to create stunning, high-quality games and immersive virtual experiences. If you're new to Unreal Engine and want to get started with this incredible tool, you've come to the right place. In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the basics of setting up a project and creating simple assets in Unreal Engine 5.

Step 1: Download and Install Unreal Engine 5

To get started, you'll need to download and install Unreal Engine 5 on your computer. Visit the official Unreal Engine website (https://www.unrealengine.com/) and sign up for a free account. Once you're logged in, download the Epic Games Launcher, which will allow you to download and manage Unreal Engine 5 and other Epic Games products.

Step 2: Create a New Project

After installing Unreal Engine 5, launch the Epic Games Launcher and navigate to the "Unreal Engine" tab. Click on the "Create a New Project" button, which will open the "New Project" window. You'll see a variety of templates to choose from, including first-person, third-person, top-down, and more. Select the template that best fits your project idea, and choose a location on your computer to save the project files.

Make sure to give your project a name and choose the appropriate settings for your target platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.). For this tutorial, we'll be using the "Blank" template, which provides a clean slate for building your project from scratch.

Step 3: Familiarize Yourself with the Interface

When you open your new project in Unreal Engine 5, you'll be greeted with the main interface. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the various panels and tools, including:

• Viewport: The central area where you'll create and manipulate your game world.
• World Outliner: A list of all the objects (actors) in your level, which you can use to select and modify them.
• Details Panel: Provides information and settings for the currently selected object in the World Outliner.
• Content Browser: A library of all your project's assets, such as textures, models, sounds, and more.
• Toolbar: A set of common tools and commands for working with your project, such as saving, building, and playing.

Step 4: Create Basic Assets

4.1: Create a Basic Object (Static Mesh)

In Unreal Engine 5, objects are referred to as "actors." To create a simple object, such as a cube or a sphere, follow these steps:

1. In the Content Browser, click the "Add New" button and choose "Shapes" from the dropdown menu.
2. Select the shape you want to add, such as a cube or a sphere, and drag it into the Viewport.
3. Use the translation, rotation, and scale tools in the Toolbar to position and resize your object as desired.

4.2: Create a Material

Materials define the appearance of objects in your scene, including their color, texture, and reflective properties. To create a new material, follow these steps:

1. In the Content Browser, click the "Add New" button and choose "Material" from the dropdown menu.
2. Give your material a name and double-click on it to open the Material Editor.
3. In the Material Editor, you can create a basic material by connecting nodes to the material's output node. For example, connect a "Constant3Vector" node to the "Base Color" input to set the object's color.
4. Save your material by clicking the "Apply" button in the Material Editor.

4.3: Apply a Material to an Object

To apply the material you created to an object in your scene, follow these steps:

1. In the Content Browser, locate the material you created.
2. Click and drag the material onto the object in the Viewport or World Outliner.
3. The object will update to display the new material.

4.4: Create a Texture

Textures are image files that can be applied to materials to add detail and realism to objects. To import a texture, follow these steps:

1. Locate a suitable image file (JPG, PNG, or TGA) on your computer or download one from a texture library.
2. In the Content Browser, click the "Import" button and navigate to the image file on your computer.
3. Select the image file and click "Open" to import it into your project.

4.5: Apply a Texture to a Material

To apply a texture to a material, follow these steps:

1. Double-click on the material you want to edit to open the Material Editor.
2. In the Content Browser, locate the texture you imported.
3. Drag the texture into the Material Editor and connect it to the appropriate input, such as "Base Color" or "Normal."
4. Save your changes by clicking the "Apply" button in the Material Editor.

With these basic assets created, you're well on your way to building your first project in Unreal Engine 5. As you become more comfortable with the interface and tools, you can start to explore more advanced features, such as lighting, animations, and blueprints, to bring your project to life. Good luck, and happy developing!