Version Control
Last Updated: July 12, 2025
Benefits of Using Version Control
- Lets you backup your work and keep a history of changes.
- Allows multiple developers to collaborate on the same project.
- Version Control Systems, such as Git, Plastic, and Perforce, are widely used among hobbyists, indie developers, and industry professionals.
Overview of a Version Control System (VCS)
- A main copy of the project is hosted on a server. Other users copy it to their local machines, make changes, and commit changes back to the main copy.
- When a user pushes changes to the main copy, other users can pull those changes to their local machines.
- Users can also make branches of the project to isolate development, then merge the changes into the master branch.
Git and Git Hosting Platform
Git Repo Hosts
Setup and Usage
Git Large File Storage
Installing Git Large File Storage
Branching Best Practices
Git GUI Clients
GitHub Desktop
Sourcetree
GitKraken Desktop
- Git GUIs also included in IDEs and Text Editors, such as Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and Rider.
Other Version Control Systems
Perforce P4
- AAA Games Industry standard for Version Control.
- Excellent at handing large codebases and high-quality art assets.
- Includes robust GUI Client.
- New Stream Depots also for easier branching and development isolation.
- Free for up to 5 Users. Larger Teams require a license.
Unity Version Control
- Easier branch management than Git.
- Includes robust GUI Client.
- Engine-agnostic.
- Additional features for handling art assets, and to make it easier for artists to use version control.
- Free Cloud Hosting for Up to 3 Users. Free Trials and Subscriptions available for larger teams.
Diversion
- Version Control for game development.
- Suitable for managing large art assets and video game code.
- Automatic merge conflict prevention.
- Intuitive GUI that's friendly for artists.
- Free for up to 5 Users. Monthly subscription for each additional user.
Originally Published: December 17, 2021