What is Unity?

What is Unity?

Unity is a powerful, flexible game engine used to create 2D and 3D games, simulations, and interactive experiences. It supports deploying to over 25 platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox, PlayStation, and WebGL.

Unity Hub

To get started, you use Unity Hub. The Hub is a management application that lets you:

• Install and update different versions of the Unity Editor.
• Manage your licenses and user account.
• Create new projects and open existing ones.
• Access tutorials and learning resources.

Editor Versions

Unity releases editor versions in two main tracks:

• LTS (Long Term Support): Released once a year, these versions are stable, receive regular bug fixes, and are recommended for projects in production.
• Tech Stream / Pre-releases: These versions allow developers to test out the newest features, but they are not recommended for live projects.

2D vs 3D Mode

When creating a project, you select a template:

• 3D Mode: Configures the camera to be perspective, enables 3D lighting, and imports standard 3D collision settings.
• 2D Mode: Configures the camera to be orthographic (flat projection), disables default scene lighting, and sets up 2D physics.

You can change these settings at any time in the Editor after creating the project.

TL;DR

• Unity is a cross-platform engine supporting 2D, 3D, and VR/AR development.
• Unity Hub manages Unity installations, projects, and licenses.
• Use LTS versions for production and stable releases.
• Select 2D or 3D templates depending on the project type, though settings can be toggled later.