Unity MCP Server: Use AI to Control Your Unity Projects with Claude

Imagine being able to create entire games with just a few natural language prompts. Welcome to the world of Unity MCP, where the boundaries between game development and AI-driven creativity are blurring. This innovative approach, known as vibe coding, is transforming how game developers work by integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) directly into the Unity game engine. In this article, we'll dive into the exciting realm of Unity MCP and explore how it's changing the game development landscape.

What is Unity MCP?

Unity MCP, or Model Context Protocol for Unity, is an open-source project designed to facilitate seamless communication between Unity and LLMs like Claude Desktop. This protocol acts as a bridge, allowing developers to automate workflows, manipulate assets, and control the Unity Editor programmatically. It's perfect for those looking to leverage AI to enhance their Unity projects or automate repetitive tasks.

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Report: How Unity MCP Works

To understand the full potential of Unity MCP, let's take a closer look at how it works and what features it offers.

Key Features of Unity MCP

Bidirectional Communication: Unity MCP enables developers to send commands to and receive responses from MCP-compliant tools, allowing for real-time interaction between Unity and AI agents.

Asset Management: Create, import, and manipulate Unity assets programmatically. This includes importing assets, instantiating prefabs, and creating new prefabs.

Scene Control: Open, save, and modify scenes, plus create and manipulate game objects. This feature allows for dynamic scene management directly from AI prompts.

Material Editing: Apply and modify materials with ease. Developers can automate material adjustments based on AI-driven inputs.

Script Integration: Create, view, and update C# scripts within Unity. This feature enables AI to generate or modify scripts based on project needs.

Editor Automation: Automate Unity Editor tasks like building projects or entering play mode. This automation can significantly reduce development time and effort.

Unity MCP Prerequisites

To get started with Unity MCP, you'll need:

1. Unity 2020.3 LTS or newer (currently only works in URP projects).
2. Python 3.7 or newer.
3. Git (Optional but recommended).
4. The uv package manager for Python environment setup.
5. Claude Desktop App installed and logged in.

Setting Up Unity MCP

Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up Unity MCP:

Step 1: Create a New Unity MCP Project Unity

1. Launch Unity Hub and click "New Project"
2. Select the latest LTS version of Unity (2022.3+ recommended)
3. Choose the 3D Core template (or your preferred template)
4. Name your project (e.g., "UnityMCP_Demo") and select a project location

Pro Tip:
✔ Use a short, simple path (e.g., C:\Dev\UnityMCP) to avoid file permission issues
✔ Enable Version Control (Git) from the start if working in a team

Step 2: Install Unity MCP via Package Manager

1. In Unity, go to: Window > Package Manager

2. Click the + dropdown → Add package from git URL

3. Enter the repository URL:

https://github.com/justinpbarnett/unity-mcp.git

(It is very important to make sure that at the end of the URL, you add the ".git" keyword for successful integration!)

4. Click Add and wait for Unity to resolve dependencies

Troubleshooting:
⚠ If installation fails:

• Check your internet connection
• Verify Git is installed (git --version in terminal)
• Try adding #stable after .git to pin a specific version

Step 3: Clone the Unity-MCP Repository Locally

Option A: Using Git (Recommended)

git clone https://github.com/justinpbarnett/unity-mcp.git
cd unity-mcp

Option B: Manual Download

1. Visit the GitHub repository: github.com/justinpbarnett/unity-mcp
2. Click Code > Download ZIP
3. Extract to a folder like C:\Dev\unity-mcp

Why this matters:
🔹 The local repo contains Python scripts for MCP server communication
🔹 Required for real-time AI-driven Unity interactions

Step 4: Set Up the UV Package Manager for Unity MCP

Windows (PowerShell):

powershell -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

Mac/Linux (Terminal):

brew install uv

Verify Installation:

uv --version  # Should return v0.1.0+

Note: UV (Ultra Fast Python Installer) replaces pip for faster dependency resolution.

Step 5: Configure Unity MCP Python Dependencies

1. Navigate to the cloned unity-mcp folder

2. Run:

uv pip install -e .

3. Confirm successful installation:

python -c "import unity_mcp; print('OK')"

Step 6: Integrate Unity MCP with Claude AI

1. Locate your Claude config file:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
• Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add the Unity MCP server configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unityMCP": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "-directory",
        "C:/Dev/UnityMCP_Demo",  # replace with the actual path pointing to the git repo project you cloned
        "run",
        "server.py"
      ]
    }
  }
}

3. Save and restart Claude

Step 7: Verify the Unity MCP Setup in Unity and Claude

1. In Unity, go to: Window > Unity MCP > Configurator
2. Click Auto Configure
3. Check for a green status indicator (🟢 = connected)
4. In Claude navigate to: Settings > Developer > Unity MCP.

Other Unity MCP Implementations

Besides Unity MCP, there are other implementations like YetAnotherUnityMcp, which uses WebSockets for real-time communication between Unity and AI agents. This system allows AI to inspect and control Unity scenes, execute C# code, and capture screenshots with AI-driven parameters.

The Future of Game Development with Unity MCP

Unity MCP and vibe coding are not just tools; they represent a fundamental shift in how games are developed. By integrating AI into the development process, creators can focus on the creative aspects while AI handles the technical details.

Advantages of Unity MCP

Increased Efficiency: Automating repetitive tasks and leveraging AI for code generation can significantly speed up development cycles.

Enhanced Creativity: With AI handling the coding, developers can focus on game design, storytelling, and artistic elements.

Accessibility: Unity MCP makes game development more accessible to those without extensive coding backgrounds, opening up new opportunities for educators and hobbyists.

Challenges and Limitations

While Unity MCP offers exciting possibilities, there are challenges to consider:

Technical Complexity: Setting up and integrating Unity MCP requires technical expertise, especially for those new to AI-driven tools.

Dependence on AI: The quality of the output depends heavily on the AI model's capabilities and the clarity of the prompts.

Learning Curve: Developers need to adapt to a new workflow that involves collaborating with AI agents.

Real-World Applications

Unity MCP is not just a theoretical concept; it's being used in real-world projects. For instance, developers are using it to create entire games from single prompts, demonstrating its potential for rapid prototyping and development.

Sample Prompt 1:

>> Using the unity-mcp tool, please make a mario clone in unity

Fear not! As a security measure, Claude will always ask for your permission before actually using any MCP tool you might have previously configured. Simply click "Allow for This Chat" and Claude will procced with its task.

You can view the process or steps that Claude takes when creating the game:

After allowing Claude to run for a few minutes, we can see that what it's developing is slowly starting to look something like the game we want to create:

The final output:

Sample Prompt 2:

>> Model an aquarium with fish inside using Unity MCP.

Final Thoughts

Unity MCP is a game-changer in the world of game development, bridging the gap between human creativity and AI-driven efficiency. By integrating MCP servers, you’re not just automating tasks—you’re unlocking new levels of productivity, precision, and creativity in your projects. Whether you're streamlining workflows, accelerating development, or enhancing gameplay experiences, Unity MCP equips you with the tools to push the boundaries of what's possible. As AI technology continues to evolve, so too will the potential for even more innovative applications in gaming. The future of game development is here, and it's powered by Unity MCP. Ready to level up your development process? The possibilities are endless!

And while you're at it, don't forget to check out Apidog to supercharge you MCP and API development workflow! 🚀