Open Source, Open Worlds: Start your O3DE Journey

The game dev world is changing. Open source is no longer just for backend services or web apps—it’s powering game engines too. One of the most exciting projects in this space?  Open 3D Engine. Backed by the Open 3D Foundation and a growing community, O3DE is a powerful, full-featured, real-time open source engine that excels in creating high-fidelity games, advanced robotic simulations, and immersive 3D worlds. Its versatile capabilities bridge the physical and digital realms, enabling developers to craft remarkable experiences that blend intricate details with dynamic interactions.

Working on O3DE is like stepping into the cockpit of a high-performance jet. It’s massive, complex, and built by a global team of experienced developers. Whether for gaming, robotics, or virtual environments, O3DE delivers stunning visual fidelity and interactive depth, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital creation. You’ll pick up real-world C++ skills, learn about rendering pipelines, modular engine design, and best practices used in professional game studios.

In fact, O3DE has seen incredible growth in the last year. For the first quarter in 2025, O3DE saw a 176% increase in downloads compared to 2024. That’s 28,674 downloads for Q1 2025 vs 10,392 for Q1 2024. (see graph below)

Here’s a guide on how to get started contributing:

🔧 Get Familiar with O3DE

• Website: https://www.o3de.org/
• GitHub: https://github.com/o3de/o3de
• Read the O3DE documentation to understand the architecture, modules, and development practices.

🧩 Pick an Area to Contribute

• Bug fixes: Check GitHub Issues labeled good first issue or help wanted.
• Features/Modules: Contribute to a specific gem (module), like:
  • Animation
  • Networking
  • Scripting (Lua, Python)
  • Rendering (Atom Renderer)
  • Editor UX
• Testing: We’re looking for people to help test the stabilization of O3DE 24.09.2. Download, test it, and let us know your thoughts.
  • Windows https://o3debinaries.org/download/windows.html
  • Linux https://o3debinaries.org/download/linux.html

✅ Make a Contribution

• Fork the repo
• Create a feature branch:
  bash

  CopyEdit

  git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name

• Follow the code style guidelines
• Test your changes
• Commit with a clear message:
  bash

  CopyEdit

  git commit -m "Fix: issue description or feature summary"

• Push to your fork and open a PR:
  bash

  CopyEdit

  git push origin feature/your-feature-name

💗 Donate to the project

• By donating, you help drive innovation, expand capabilities, and ensure the continued development of a high-performance, open 3D engine for gaming, robotics, simulation, and beyond.
• We welcome contributions from individual supporters who want to see O3DE grow and evolve. Every donation directly supports the development and sustainability of the project. Donate here.

💬 Engage with the Community

• Join the Discord
• Attend public community meetings
• Connect with us on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to our new quarterly newsletter
• Follow us on WeChat
• Watch our videos on YouTube
• Become a member