Up and running in five minutes.

1. Install the plugin

Got it on Fab?

1. In the Epic Games Launcher, open Fab Library, find Exaro for Unreal (Free) and click Install to Engine for the engine version your project uses.
2. Open your project, go to Edit → Plugins, search for Exaro for Unreal, tick it, and restart the editor when asked.

Downloaded it from exarostudio.com?

1. Close Unreal Editor.
2. Unzip the download into your project's Plugins folder, so you end up with MyGame/Plugins/ExaroStudio/ExaroStudio.uplugin.
3. Open your project and click Yes if Unreal asks to enable the plugin.
4. Have a license key? Open Window → Exaro Unreal License (called Exaro Studio License in plugin 0.6.0), paste it and click Activate this machine.

2. Add your AI key

1. Open Edit → Editor Preferences, then Plugins → Exaro Studio in the left column. (It's in Editor Preferences, not Project Settings.)
2. Paste your API key into the Anthropic, Google or OpenAI field.

Your key stays on your machine and is only ever sent to the provider you pick. Your provider bills you directly; Exaro never meters or marks up AI usage.

Already pay for Claude Code, Codex or Gemini CLI? Choose that CLI in the chat panel instead of entering a key, and Exaro uses your existing subscription. (Every edition; on the free edition it inspects but does not change the project.)

3. Start chatting

Open Window → Exaro, or press Ctrl+Alt+A from anywhere in the editor. Pick a provider and model, type a request, and press Send. That's it. The chat panel already has every tool; there is nothing to connect or configure.

A good first session:

Free, Pro and licensed: what's the difference?

Upgrading from the free edition

1. Subscribe to Exaro Unreal (Individual or Studio) or Exaro Studio at exarostudio.com/pricing.
2. Download the plugin for your engine version from your library (sign in with the email you bought with).
3. Install: close Unreal and unzip it into your project's Plugins folder, so you have MyGame/Plugins/ExaroStudio/ExaroStudio.uplugin.
4. Activate: open the project, then Window → Exaro Unreal License (called Exaro Studio License in plugin 0.6.0), paste your key and click Activate this machine.

Troubleshooting

• No Exaro menu under Window: check the plugin is ticked under Edit → Plugins, then restart the editor.
• The AI answers with an error: check your key under Editor Preferences, and that your provider account has credit.
• It says a change needs the full plugin: you are on the free edition from Fab, which can inspect but not edit. See upgrading from the free edition.
• Nothing happens after asking for a change: if you turned on Ask before applying changes, look for the approval card in the Exaro panel; it waits for your click.

Still stuck? Email [email protected] and we'll help.

Optional: use Claude Code, Cursor or Claude Desktop

Skip this if you use the chat panel. It is only for people who prefer to work from a separate AI app and have it drive the open editor. Unreal must stay open while you do.

Each time the editor starts it creates a fresh access code in YourProject/Saved/hs-mcp.token. Your app needs it, so after restarting the editor, update the code in your app. Pick your app:

claude mcp add --transport http exarostudio http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp --header "X-Exaro-MCP-Token: $(Get-Content Saved\hs-mcp.token)"

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exarostudio": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp",
      "headers": { "X-Exaro-MCP-Token": "<paste the contents of Saved/hs-mcp.token>" }
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exarostudio": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp", "--allow-http",
               "--header", "X-Exaro-MCP-Token:<paste the contents of Saved/hs-mcp.token>"]
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exarostudio": {
      "command": "powershell",
      "args": ["-NoProfile", "-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass", "-File",
               "C:/Projects/MyGame/Plugins/ExaroStudio/Tools/ExaroStudio-Proxy.ps1"]
    }
  }
}

Optional: find and import assets

With an exarostudio.com account you can browse the asset marketplace or just ask Exaro, for example: “Find three low-poly tavern props under $10 and show me previews. Don't buy anything until I approve one.” Every purchase shows you the price and waits for your approval, and bought assets stay in your library.

What next?