Getting Started

Install OPAL, run the setup wizard, install an engine, and launch your first project.
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This guide takes you from “I don’t have OPAL yet” to “I’m looking at the O3DE Editor with my project open.” No prior O3DE knowledge required — but if you’ve used Unity Hub or the stock O3DE Project Manager, the flow will feel familiar.

1. Install OPAL

Head to the Download page and grab the build for your platform. Run the installer (Windows/macOS) or launch the AppImage (Linux).

2. Run the setup wizard

On first launch, OPAL runs a short onboarding wizard: Welcome → Build Tools → Libraries → Install Locations → Done.

The wizard detects the build tools you already have — CMake, a build system (Ninja / Visual Studio / Xcode), and compilers — and offers the exact install command for anything missing, tailored to your platform’s package manager. You can re-run it any time from Settings.

Not planning to compile C++? Turn on Script-Only mode in the wizard (or later in Settings) and OPAL skips source-build tooling entirely.

3. Install your first engine

Open the Engines page and click Download Engines. OPAL reads O3DE’s release metadata and lists official builds for your platform, newest first (a Latest badge marks the current release).

This is the selling point: you don’t need to visit the O3DE website. OPAL handles the download, install, and registration itself.

  • Latest release — recommended for new projects.
  • Older release — pick any prior version from the list.
  • Pre-release — enable “Show pre-releases” to install a development or stabilization branch build.
  • Source build — install the engine as source and let OPAL build it (hidden in Script-Only mode).

Pick one. OPAL tracks the work in the Downloads queue (and the Builds queue for source engines). You can keep using the rest of the app while it runs.

Already have an engine on disk? Use Add Engine on the Engines page to register it instead.

4. Create or import a project

Once an engine is installed, go to the Projects page.

Create a new project

Click New Project and fill in:

  • Name — validated as you type (starts with a letter; letters, numbers, _, -; up to 64 characters).
  • Location — the parent folder for the project.
  • Engine — defaults to your default engine; override if needed.
  • Template — OPAL preselects DefaultProject; pick another if you like.

Hit Create. OPAL writes project.json, registers the project, and adds it to the list.

Or import an existing project

Click Import and point at a folder containing a valid project.json. OPAL reads the manifest, resolves the engine, and adds the project without modifying it.

5. Build, then launch

Find the project in your list and check its status badge:

BadgeMeaningWhat to do
Not BuiltNever configured/builtClick Build, then Launch
Needs BuildChanged since last buildClick Build to refresh
BuiltBuild is currentClick Launch to open the Editor
Build FailedLast build erroredOpen Logs to see why

 

For a fresh project you’ll see Not Built. Click Build — OPAL queues the CMake configure and compile (the first build takes a while; that’s O3DE compiling your project). When it flips to Built, click Launch. The card walks through Launching → Processing Assets → Running as the Editor opens with your project loaded.

6. Next steps

Next: Engines →