Install and set up
What your computer needs, and how Ryuo checks and installs it.
Get Ryuo
The homepage has separate Windows and Mac download buttons. If a button says Coming soon, that installer is not available from the site yet.
For an available Mac download, open the DMG and drag Ryuo Studio into Applications. Eject the disk image, then open Ryuo from Applications. If macOS reports that the app cannot be verified, do not disable its security checks; contact support.
Mac updates are installed manually: quit Ryuo, download the newer installer from the homepage, and replace the app in Applications. Do not delete your projects or application data to update.
Local Unreal on Windows
| Needed | Version |
|---|---|
| Windows | 64-bit (x64) |
| Unreal Engine | 5.8, with Templates and Feature Packs |
| C++ build tools | Visual Studio 2022 (17.14 or newer) or Visual Studio 2026, with MSVC 14.38+, a Windows SDK 10.0.22621+ and the .NET Framework SDK |
| Blender (optional) | 5.1 or 5.2, for modeling and game-ready meshes |
Unreal and the build tools need plenty of disk space. Keep your projects outside OneDrive: OneDrive slows Unreal down and blocks some project changes.
Local Unreal on Mac
Local Unreal requires an Apple Silicon Mac, macOS 14.5 or newer, Unreal Engine 5.8, and Xcode with the Metal compiler. Use Xcode 26.1.1; Xcode 26.4 is incompatible with Unreal 5.8. Open Xcode once to finish installation and accept its license, then select it under Xcode → Settings → Locations → Command Line Tools. Ryuo checks these requirements under computer setup.
For local C++ changes on Mac, Ryuo saves your assets, closes Unreal, rebuilds and reopens it automatically. This takes longer than Windows Live Coding. When using a Windows cloud editor from a Mac, Live Coding still runs on the cloud machine.
Use the Ryuo dragon icon in the Dock to return to the studio. Unreal stays in its own window.
Using cloud Unreal
Choose New project → Unreal Engine → In the cloud to create project files without installing Unreal or C++ build tools on your computer. After creation, ask the agent to start a cloud editor. Creating files does not start a paid session; cloud compute requires an eligible account and is billed while running. Stop the session through the agent to save and sync its changes back.
First-run setup
Your app version appears beside Ryuo Studio in the top-left title bar. Include it when reporting an issue.
When you open Ryuo, onboarding lets you customize your workspace, choose a theme and sign in or skip. Check tools and engines on Home checks local requirements. You can also open it from Settings → Advanced, or from New project once Unreal is found; if Unreal 5.8 is missing, New project offers Set up my computer instead. Set up my computer works through the missing required items:
- Unreal Engine 5.8 opens the Epic Games Launcher. Install 5.8 with Templates and Feature Packs. After installation, launch Unreal once and finish its first-run setup, then return to Ryuo. You do not need to create a project in Unreal first.
- C++ development tools on Windows installs the required Visual Studio 2022 build tools for you, or adds missing components to a compatible existing installation. Approve the Windows prompt; Microsoft shows installation progress and Ryuo checks the result. You do not have to select workloads or install the full Visual Studio editor. On Mac, Xcode and Metal tools opens Apple's Xcode downloads.
Blender is optional: Get Blender opens Blender's download page. You can skip it and add it later.
Microsoft's license terms apply when you choose to install its build tools. Keep Ryuo open during installation. Ryuo does not restart your computer; if Microsoft requires a restart, Ryuo tells you. If installation is cancelled or fails, setup shows the error and lets you retry.
Sign in
Click Sign in or create an account. Ryuo opens ryuo.ai in your browser and shows a short code; approve that code on the website and the app signs in. Your plan is on the Billing page of your account, and your credits and usage are on Usage.
Use the appearance icons in the website navigation to choose Light (sun), Dark (moon), or System (monitor). On the homepage they sit beside Docs and Sign in; account pages keep them in the sidebar. System follows your device’s appearance automatically and is the default. Your choice is remembered in this browser across the website, including account and billing pages. The red and pale-cyan accents stay consistent in both modes, including the footer. This does not change the color theme you choose inside Studio.
New verified accounts receive 2,000 beta credits while the beta offer is open. No card or paid subscription is required.