How to Host Unity Games on the Web: A Step-by-Step Guide (2024)

Unity is a powerful game development engine that allows you to create amazing games for various platforms, including the web. Hosting your Unity games on the web enables easy accessibility for players and allows you to reach a wider audience. In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of hosting Unity games on the web.

When your real-time experience is ready, you need to create a build to share it with others. A build is a standalone, playable version of your game. There are different kinds of build you can create — this tutorial focuses on WebGL builds, which you can publish online for others to play.

Step 0: Before you begin.

To build your project, you will need:

• The WebGL Build Support module added to your Unity installation.
• The WebGL Publisher package, installed for your Unity version via the Package Manager.

Follow the instructions in this step to make sure that you are ready to begin this tutorial.

Check for the Build Support module.

To check whether you have the necessary Build Support module installed:

• Open the Unity Hub.
• Select the Projects tab and identify the version of Unity you are using in the project you want to build.
• Select the Installs tab and search for the version in the list available. If the WebGL Build Support module is installed, a WebGL icon will be present at the bottom of the version tile.

• If the WebGL icon is not present, add the WebGL Build Support module to your version of Unity.

Check for the WebGL Publisher package.

To check for this package:

• Open the project you want to publish in Unity Editor.
• Open the Package Manager by selecting Window > Package Manager. 3. Use the drop-down filter menu in the upper-left corner of the window to select In Project packages. 4. Search for WebGL Publisher. If it’s listed and up-to-date, you’re ready to build and publish your real-time experience.

Introduction to WebGL builds.

Before you create a WebGL build, let’s review some background information.

What is a WebGL build?

WebGL builds are a collection of files which contain your real-time experience. You can play them in your browser locally, or publish them on Unity Play or other online hosting platforms.

What sort of projects can I use to create WebGL builds?

Generally speaking, the smaller the size of a Unity project, the more suitable it is for WebGL builds. Designers and developers often spend significant effort optimizing their experiences to make sure that they are small enough to give users a good experience when they load them online. The Microgames, Create with Code challenges, and Junior Programmer portfolio projects on Unity Learn should all be suitable for creating WebGL builds.

How can I share WebGL builds of my projects?

You can publish the collections of files that make up a WebGL build on a range of different online hosting platforms. You can publish to Unity Play directly from the Unity Editor, or upload the files to an alternative service if you prefer.

Step 1: Build Your Unity Game

Before hosting your game on the web, you need to build it for the appropriate platform. In Unity, navigate to “File” -> “Build Settings” to open the Build Settings window. Select the target platform as WebGL, which is the platform used for web deployment. Click on the “Switch Platform” button if necessary. Add the scenes you want to include in your build and ensure that all necessary assets are included. Finally, click on the “Build” button to start the build process.

Step 2: Configure WebGL Settings

After the build process completes, Unity generates a folder containing the necessary files for your web deployment. Open the folder and locate the index.html file. This file is the entry point for your game on the web. Open it in a text editor and modify the settings as needed, such as changing the game title, specifying the canvas size, and defining other WebGL parameters.

About your build files

Your WebGL build consists of an index.html file, as well as other folders, files and assets that the game will need to run. The index.html file is a loader file; it functions as a launcher for your game. However, without the other files in their correct locations it won’t work properly, as it is dependent on them to run your build. If you need to move the build files to a different location, make sure to move everything together — we recommend zipping the files to do this.

Sharing your WebGL build with others.

The best way to share your WebGL build with others is by hosting it online. However, you can give a zipped folder of your WebGL build to others directly.

Step 3: Hosting Options

To host your Unity game on the web, you have several options:

Option 1: Self-Hosting. You can host the game on your own web server. Upload the entire folder generated by the build process to your web server using FTP or any other file transfer method. Ensure that the folder structure is maintained. Once the files are uploaded, players can access your game by visiting the appropriate URL.

Option 2: Web Hosting Services. Another option is to use web hosting services that specialize in hosting web content, including games. These services provide server space, bandwidth, and other features to ensure your game is accessible to players. Popular web hosting services include Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and many others. Follow the hosting provider’s instructions to upload your game files and make them publicly accessible.

Option 3: Game Distribution Platforms. You can also consider uploading your Unity game to game distribution platforms that support web-based games. Platforms like Itch.io and Game Jolt allow developers to host and distribute their games easily. These platforms provide built-in audience, promotional tools, and analytics to help you reach players and track your game’s performance.

Option 4: Publish your WebGL build on Unity Play.

To publish your WebGL build on Unity Play:

• Make sure that you have installed the WebGL publisher package and checked for updates.
• In the Unity Editor, go to the main menu and select Publish > WebGL Project.
• In the WebGL Publish window, select Get started.

• Find the build that you created in the list and select Publish.

• If you created your build in a previous Unity Editor session, you will not see your build listed. In that case, select Locate Existing Build and navigate to the folder containing your build.
• You can create a WebGL build from this point in the process and publish it directly, but you will not be able to configure the Scene order or project settings if you do so.
• Unity Editor will then publish your build to Unity Play; this could take some time, depending on the size and complexity of your project.
• Partway through the uploading process, the Unity Play page for your build will open in edit mode in your default browser window.

You’ll be able to:

• Name your build
• Add a short description
• Provide a thumbnail image — we recommend taking one in the Unity Editor, from Play Mode
• Tag the assets and tutorials you used to make your real-time experience

Step 4: Testing and Troubleshooting

Once your game is hosted on the web, it’s essential to test it thoroughly to ensure it runs as expected. Access the game through the provided URL and verify that all functionalities, graphics, and audio are working correctly. Pay attention to any potential performance issues or errors that may arise during gameplay. Use the browser’s developer tools and Unity’s debugging tools to troubleshoot and fix any issues that occur.

Step 5: Promote and Share Your Game

After successfully hosting your Unity game on the web, it’s time to promote and share it with the world. Utilize social media platforms, gaming communities, forums, and other channels to create awareness about your game. Provide a compelling description, screenshots, and gameplay videos to attract potential players. Engage with your audience, collect feedback, and iterate on your game based on player suggestions.

Hosting your Unity games on the web opens up new possibilities for reaching a larger audience and providing an easily accessible gaming experience. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can build your game for WebGL, configure WebGL settings, choose a hosting option, and test your game to ensure a smooth player experience.