Editor MCP Server

What is Editor MCP Server about?

Editor MCP Server provides a bridge between large language models (LLMs) such as Anthropic Claude and the PlayCanvas Editor, allowing LLMs to issue commands that manipulate entities, assets, scenes, and the PlayCanvas Store directly from a chat interface.

How to use Editor MCP Server?

1. Install dependencies – run npm install in the repository.
2. Start the MCP server – execute the command defined in the MCP config (e.g., npx tsx /path/to/mcp-editor/src/server.ts). The server listens on the port specified in the config (default 52000).
3. Configure an LLM client – add the MCP server in Claude Desktop or Cursor using the provided mcp.json/claude_desktop_config.json template.
4. Load the Chrome extension – enable developer mode in chrome://extensions/, load the extensions folder, then open the PlayCanvas Editor and click CONNECT in the extension popup.
5. Issue commands – type natural‑language instructions in Claude Desktop or Cursor; the LLM will invoke the appropriate MCP tools (e.g., list_entities, create_assets).

Key features of Editor MCP Server

• Comprehensive toolset for entities, assets, scenes, and PlayCanvas Store operations.
• TypeScript implementation with strong typings for safe tool calls.
• Support for both Claude Desktop and Cursor as LLM back‑ends.
• Chrome extension integration for seamless connection to the PlayCanvas Editor.
• Configurable port and environment variables allowing flexible deployment.

Use cases of Editor MCP Server

• Rapid prototyping – let an LLM generate or modify scene content on the fly.
• Batch asset management – automate creation, deletion, and updating of assets.
• Team assistance – new developers can ask natural‑language questions and have the editor perform actions automatically.
• Testing UI flows – script repetitive editor tasks without manual clicks.

FAQ from the Editor MCP Server

Q: Which LLM works best with this server? A: Anthropic Claude (Pro tier) provides sufficient context length; Claude Desktop tends to be more reliable than Cursor.

Q: Can I run multiple editor instances simultaneously? A: No. Only one PlayCanvas Editor instance can be connected to the MCP server at a time.

Q: Do I need a paid Claude account? A: The free tier often lacks enough chat context for reliable operation, so a Pro account is strongly recommended.

Q: How do I change the server port? A: Edit the PORT value in the MCP config JSON (env section) and restart the server.

Q: What if I want to use a different LLM? A: The server itself is LLM‑agnostic; you only need to ensure the client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.) can forward tool calls to the MCP server.

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An MCP Server for automating the PlayCanvas Editor using an LLM.

[!IMPORTANT]
At the moment, the MCP Server needs to be driven by Anthropic's Claude. Our experience shows that the free tier for Claude does not deliver a big enough chat context to operate the MCP Server reliably. Therefore, we strongly recommend subscribing to a Pro Claude account.

Available Tools

• Entity
  • list_entities
  • create_entities
  • delete_entities
  • duplicate_entities
  • modify_entities
  • reparent_entity
  • add_components
  • remove_components
  • add_script_component_script
• Asset
  • list_assets
  • create_assets
  • delete_assets
  • instantiate_template_assets
  • set_script_text
  • script_parse
  • set_material_diffuse
• Scene
  • query_scene_settings
  • modify_scene_settings
• Store
  • store_search
  • store_get
  • store_download

Installation

Run npm install to install all dependencies.

Install Chrome Extension

1. Visit chrome://extensions/ and enable Developer mode
2. Click Load unpacked and select the extensions folder
3. Load the PlayCanvas Editor. The extension should be loaded.

Run MCP Server

The MCP Server can be driven by Cursor or Claude Desktop.

[!TIP]
We have found Claude Desktop to be generally more reliable.

Claude Desktop

1. Install Claude Desktop.
2. Go to Claude > Settings.
3. Select Developer and then Edit Config.
4. This will open claude_desktop_config.json, your MCP Config JSON file.

Cursor

1. Install Cursor.
2. Select File > Preferences > Cursor Settings.
3. Click + Add new global MCP server.
4. This will open mcp.json, your MCP Config JSON file.

[!TIP]
Also in Cursor Settings, select Features and scroll to the Chat section. Activate Enable auto-run mode to allow the LLM to run MCP tools without requiring constant authorization. You do this at your own risk (but we prefer it)!

[!IMPORTANT]
In Cursor, ensure you have Agent selected. Ask and Edit modes will not recognize the MCP Server.

MCP Config JSON File

This is how your config should look:

Windows

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playcanvas": {
      "command": "cmd",
      "args": [
        "/c",
        "npx",
        "tsx",
        "C:\\path\\to\\mcp-editor\\src\\server.ts"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PORT": "52000"
      }
    }
  }
}

macOS

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playcanvas": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "tsx",
        "/path/to/mcp-editor/src/server.ts"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PORT": "52000"
      }
    }
  }
}

Connecting the Editor to the MCP Server

The PlayCanvas Editor does not connect to the MCP Server automatically. To connect:

1. Activate a Chrome tab running the PlayCanvas Editor.
2. Select the Extensions icon to the right of the address bar.
3. Select PlayCanvas Editor MCP Extension to open the extension popup.
4. Select CONNECT (the port number should match what is set in your MCP Config JSON File).

[!NOTE] You can currently only connect one instance of the PlayCanvas Editor to the MCP Server at any one time.

You should now be able to issue commands in Claude Desktop or Cursor.