How To Import Assets Into Unreal Engine

Struggling to get your assets into Unreal Engine without tearing your hair out? This guide cuts through the complexity, delivering a comprehensive overview of asset importing, troubleshooting steps, and optimization techniques.

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Overview of Supported Asset Types

Unreal Engine uses a range of assets to build your worlds.

Static Meshes (FBX, OBJ) are the building blocks of your levels, forming walls, floors, and props. Skeletal Meshes (FBX) give life to characters. Textures (PNG, JPG, TGA, EXR) add detail to static meshes, like wood grain on a table or the metallic sheen on a spaceship hull.

Audio (WAV) provides environmental sounds, character dialogue, and musical scores. Animations (FBX) control character movement. Materials and Material Instances define surface appearances. Blueprints and Levels offer pre-built logic and environment layouts.

Basic Import Methods: Content Browser and Drag-and-Drop

Unreal Engine offers two methods for importing assets.

Clicking the ‘Import’ button within the Content Browser lets you select files from your computer. This is good for organized imports.

You can also drag files directly from your file system into the Content Browser window for a quick way to bring assets into your project.

Organization is key. Create folders within the Content Browser to categorize your assets. Grouping related assets together simplifies finding and managing them. If you’re building a fantasy world, consider organizing your assets similar to the structure offered by Low Poly Fantasy Village.

The import dialog presents configuration options. Pay attention to settings like scale and normal import method. Using these settings correctly ensures assets appear as intended.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into specific asset types, starting with the foundational building blocks of any environment: static meshes.