URP Setup

Genesis requires an active Universal Render Pipeline configuration. If you created your project with the 3D (URP) template, most of this is already done — you only need to verify a few settings and (optionally) install the renderer features that ship as modules. If you are migrating from Built-in, work through every step.

Requirements

Unity Version — 2021.3 LTS or newer.
URP Version — 12.0+ (installed via Package Manager).
Color Space — Linear.
Graphics API — DX11/12, Metal, Vulkan, or GLES3.

Gamma color space will produce washed-out cel bands and incorrect rim falloff. Linear is non-negotiable for Genesis.

Steps

1. Install URP via Package Manager

Open Window > Package Manager, switch the scope to Unity Registry, search for “Universal RP”, and install version 12.0 or higher.

2. Create URP assets

In the Project window, right-click and choose Create > Rendering > URP Asset (with Universal Renderer). This produces two assets: a pipeline asset and a renderer asset. Name them URP-Genesis and URP-Genesis-Renderer.

Screenshot

The URP Asset inspector showing the Quality, Lighting, and Shadows sections that Genesis depends on.

getting-started/urp-setup/urp-asset.png

3. Assign the pipeline asset

Open Edit > Project Settings > Graphics, then drag URP-Genesis into the Scriptable Render Pipeline Settings slot. Also assign it under Project Settings > Quality for every quality tier you ship.

4. Switch color space to Linear

Go to Project Settings > Player > Other Settings > Color Space and set it to Linear. Unity will reimport textures — this can take a minute.

If you see banding or harsh shadow edges after switching, that is the expected linear-space look. The fix is to dial down _CelSmoothness or adjust your ramp texture, not to revert to Gamma.

5. (Optional) Install Genesis renderer features

Open Tools > Genesis > Renderer Feature Installer. Tick the modules you want — PCSS Shadow, Stylized Fog, Cavity — and click Install. The tool adds the features to your renderer asset.

Screenshot

The Universal Renderer asset inspector with Genesis renderer features (PCSS Shadow, Stylized Fog, Cavity) added to the Renderer Features list.

getting-started/urp-setup/renderer-features.png

Verifying

Open the Scene view. The skybox should render. Drop a cube with a default URP/Lit material — it should look lit and unflattened. Open Frame Debugger (Window > Analysis > Frame Debugger) and confirm the pipeline reads UniversalRenderPipeline.