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Add your first game

Games are created and managed from the Catalog section of the Launcher Forge dashboard. Each Launcher Forge account currently uses one workspace and one launcher. Every game created in the Catalog belongs to that workspace and can later be connected to the existing launcher.
New games are created as Draft by default.A draft remains inside the developer dashboard until you change its publishing status to Published and save the changes.

Configure launcher-game validation

Before publishing your first distributable build, connect the game runtime with the Launcher Forge launcher.This integration establishes the technical connection between the launcher and the game executable, allowing the launcher to recognize and validate the game it starts.Open the launcher-game validation guide →

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How the complete process works

Creating a game in the Catalog is only the first part of the distribution process.
These are separate parts of the system:
  • The Catalog entry contains the game information shown by Launcher Forge.
  • The launcher-game validation establishes the trusted technical connection between the launcher and the game runtime.
  • The published build contains the packaged game files.
  • The linked game configuration makes the game available inside the launcher.

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Before you begin

Prepare the following information:
  • The public game name.
  • A description of the game.
  • One or more genres.
  • A cover image.
  • A packaged game build for a later step.
  • The engine integration you will use for launcher-game validation.
The game build is not uploaded during game creation. Builds are published later through the Launcher Forge interactive CLI.

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1. Open the Catalog

Sign in to the Launcher Forge dashboard. In the left sidebar, locate MY GAMES and select Catalog. The Catalog displays:
  • Total games.
  • Published games.
  • Draft games.
  • Archived games.
  • Search and status filters.
Select New Game in the upper-right corner.
Launcher Forge Catalog with the New Game button highlighted

Open the Catalog and select New Game

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2. Complete the initial game information

Launcher Forge opens the Create new game page. The interface indicates that the game will initially be created as a draft:
Complete the available fields.

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Game name

Enter the public name that will identify the game throughout Launcher Forge. The name can appear in:
  • The Catalog.
  • Launcher game cards.
  • The launcher library.
  • Release information.
  • Game selection inside the CLI.
Use a recognizable final name. You can edit it later when necessary.

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Description

Describe the game’s universe, mechanics, genre, or main proposition. The initial description supports up to 500 characters. Write information intended to describe the game to players. Avoid internal development notes, credentials, private URLs, or infrastructure information.

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Genres

Select the genres that best represent the game. Available examples include:
  • RPG.
  • Action.
  • Adventure.
  • Strategy.
  • Puzzle.
  • Simulation.
  • Sports.
  • Horror.
  • Indie.
At least one genre must be selected before creating the game.

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Game cover

The cover image is optional during the initial creation step, but adding one is recommended. The interface accepts:
  • PNG.
  • JPG.
  • WEBP.
  • GIF.
The maximum file size displayed by the form is 10 MB. Launcher Forge recommends a 1920 × 1080 image for better visibility inside the launcher.
Launcher Forge Create new game page with game name, description, genres, and cover fields

Complete the game information and optionally upload a cover

The game name and at least one genre are required. The cover is optional, but it improves how the game appears in the Catalog and launcher.

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3. Create the game

After completing the required fields, submit the form. Launcher Forge creates the game and returns it to the Catalog. The newly created game appears with the Draft status. At this point:
  • The game exists in the Catalog.
  • It does not have a published build.
  • It is not linked to the launcher.
  • Launcher-game validation may not be configured.
  • It is not available for launcher distribution.
Draft is a preparation state. It allows you to configure the game before making its Catalog entry available for distribution.

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4. Open the game editor

Locate the game card in the Catalog. Move the pointer over the card and select the pencil icon labeled Edit game.
Draft game card in Launcher Forge with the Edit game button highlighted

Open the draft game using the Edit game button

The editor allows you to review and modify the game before publishing its Catalog entry.

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5. Review the game information

Inside the game editor, open the Information tab. Confirm:
  • Game name.
  • Short description.
  • Full description.
  • Selected genres.
  • Cover image.
  • Banner image, when available.
  • Other game metadata.
Save any changes before continuing.
Publishing controls the status of the game entry. It does not upload a build, connect the game runtime, or link the game to the launcher.

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6. Open the Publishing tab

Inside the game editor, select the Publishing tab.
Launcher Forge game editor with the Publishing tab highlighted

Open the Publishing tab in the game editor

The Publishing tab provides three statuses:

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7. Publish the game entry

Select Published. Then select Save changes.
Launcher Forge Publishing tab with Published and Save changes highlighted

Select Published and save the changes

After saving:
  • The game stops being a draft.
  • The game appears inside the Published filter.
  • The published counter increases.
  • The game becomes available to be linked to the launcher.
Selecting Published is not enough by itself. You must also select Save changes or the new status will not be applied.
Publishing the game entry does not automatically add it to the launcher library. You must still link the game to the workspace launcher.

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Draft, Published, and Archived

Use Draft while the game information is incomplete or while you are preparing:
  • Images.
  • Descriptions.
  • Launcher-game validation.
  • Branches.
  • Builds.
  • Release information.
Draft games are not available for launcher distribution.

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Publishing the game is not publishing a build

Changing the game status to Published only controls its Catalog publishing state. It does not:
  • Upload the packaged game files.
  • Generate a build manifest.
  • Create a version.
  • Publish a STABLE, PATCH, or HOTFIX release.
  • Select the main executable.
  • Configure launcher-game validation.
  • Link the game to the launcher.
  • Generate the launcher installer.
Game builds are published separately through the Launcher Forge interactive CLI.

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Configure launcher-game validation

Before uploading the first build intended for distribution, configure the technical connection between the launcher and the game runtime. This validation allows the Launcher Forge launcher to recognize and validate the game executable that it starts.
This connection is separate from:
  • End-user registration.
  • End-user login.
  • Game ownership.
  • CD key redemption.
  • Player libraries.
Those features belong to the end-user and game-access systems. Launcher-game validation specifically covers the connection between the launcher and the game runtime.

Unreal Engine

Install and configure the Launcher Forge validation integration for Unreal Engine.

Unity

Install and configure the Launcher Forge validation integration for Unity.

Open the launcher-game validation guide

Review the validation flow, launch-token contract, runtime startup process, and engine integration requirements before publishing the first distributable build.Open Launch tokens →

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Final verification

Before continuing, verify:
  • The game appears in the Catalog.
  • Its status is Published.
  • The game information is correct.
  • At least one genre is selected.
  • The cover is displayed correctly.
  • The game is available to be linked.
  • You selected the appropriate engine integration.
  • Launcher-game validation is configured.
  • The packaged game runs correctly on your computer.
  • You are ready to create the first version through the CLI.
The game entry has been created and published successfully.

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Next step

Configure launcher-game validation

Connect the game runtime with Launcher Forge and validate the launcher-game startup flow before uploading your first distributable build.Continue to Launch tokens →
After completing the validation integration, continue with: Publish your first build