Question: How do I install URP in Unity?

Answer

Installing the Universal Render Pipeline (URP) in Unity is a straightforward process that enhances your project with optimized graphics for various platforms. Here's how to install and set up URP:

1. Open Your Project: Start by opening the Unity project you want to upgrade to URP.

2. Install URP via Package Manager:

   • Go to Window > Package Manager.
   • Select the Unity Registry from the Packages dropdown.
   • Find Universal RP in the package list.
   • Click the Install button.

3. Create a URP Asset:

   • In the Project window, right-click and select Create > Rendering > Universal Render Pipeline > Pipeline Asset (Forward Renderer).
   • This creates a Scriptable Render Pipeline (SRP) asset and a Renderer asset.

4. Assign the URP Asset:

   • Now, go to Edit > Project Settings > Graphics.
   • Drag the newly created URP asset to the Scriptable Render Pipeline Settings slot.

5. Upgrade Project Materials to URP:

   • After assigning the URP asset, a popup may appear suggesting to upgrade materials. If it does not, you can manually upgrade them.
   • To manually upgrade, go to Edit > Render Pipeline > Universal Render Pipeline > Upgrade Project Materials to UniversalRP Materials.

6. Review and Fix Any Issues:

   • Some custom shaders might need to be updated to work with URP.
   • Check lighting and other graphical settings as they may appear differently under URP.

Sample Code: Creating URP Asset via Script

If you are automating setup or tooling, you may want to create the URP asset via script. Here’s an example of how to do that:

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEditor;
using UnityEngine.Rendering;
using UnityEngine.Rendering.Universal;

public class CreateURPAsset
{
    [MenuItem("Assets/Create/URP Asset")]
    static void CreateURPAssets()
    {
        // Create the Universal Render Pipeline asset
        var urpAsset = UniversalRenderPipelineAsset.Create();

        // Optionally configure the asset settings here

        // Save the created asset to your Assets folder
        AssetDatabase.CreateAsset(urpAsset, "Assets/URPAsset.asset");
        GraphicsSettings.renderPipelineAsset = urpAsset;
        GraphicsSettings.defaultRenderPipeline = urpAsset;
    }
}

Remember to tweak your settings after installation to optimize for your project's needs and platform-specific requirements. The Universal Render Pipeline offers a balance between beautiful graphics and performance across a wide range of hardware.