Assets Pipeline in Godot 4.3+

All examples target Godot 4.3+ with no deprecated APIs. GDScript is shown first, then C#.

Related skills: audio-system for audio playback and bus architecture, 3d-essentials for 3D materials and lighting, 2d-essentials for 2D rendering and sprites, animation-system for imported animations, godot-optimization for asset-related performance, multithreading for threaded resource loading.

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1. How Importing Works

The Import System

When you add a file to res://, Godot auto-imports it based on its type. Import settings are stored in .import sidecar files alongside the original.

project/
├── textures/
│   ├── player.png           ← original file (committed to VCS)
│   └── player.png.import    ← import settings (committed to VCS)
└── .godot/
    └── imported/            ← compiled cache (NOT committed, .gitignore it)

Key Rules

• Never modify files in .godot/imported/, they are regenerated from originals
• Commit .import files to version control, they store your settings
• Reimport after changing settings: select file → Import dock → click Reimport
• .godot/ should be in your .gitignore

Changing Import Settings

1. Select the file in the FileSystem dock
2. Open the Import dock (next to Scene dock by default)
3. Change settings
4. Click Reimport (or Reimport All for batch changes)

Import settings can also be set via Advanced Import Settings for 3D scenes (double-click the .glb/.gltf file).

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2. Image Import

Compression Modes