diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 3353a5a09e8bf..ec1822877df9f 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ members = ["crates/*", "examples/ios", "tools/ci"]
 [features]
 default = [
   "bevy_audio",
+  "bevy_default_assets",
   "bevy_dynamic_plugin",
   "bevy_gilrs",
   "bevy_gltf",
@@ -48,6 +49,9 @@ bevy_gltf = ["bevy_internal/bevy_gltf"]
 bevy_wgpu = ["bevy_internal/bevy_wgpu"]
 bevy_winit = ["bevy_internal/bevy_winit"]
 
+# Include default bevy assets
+bevy_default_assets = ["render", "bevy_internal/bevy_default_assets"]
+
 trace_chrome = ["bevy_internal/trace_chrome"]
 trace = ["bevy_internal/trace"]
 wgpu_trace = ["bevy_internal/wgpu_trace"]
diff --git a/crates/bevy_internal/Cargo.toml b/crates/bevy_internal/Cargo.toml
index d4556746d3508..52d055e092c97 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_internal/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/bevy_internal/Cargo.toml
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ x11 = ["bevy_winit/x11"]
 # enable rendering of font glyphs using subpixel accuracy
 subpixel_glyph_atlas = ["bevy_text/subpixel_glyph_atlas"]
 
+# include default bevy assets
+bevy_default_assets = ["bevy_text/bevy_default_assets"]
+
 [dependencies]
 # bevy
 bevy_app = { path = "../bevy_app", version = "0.4.0" }
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/Cargo.toml b/crates/bevy_text/Cargo.toml
index 855f70398b6db..3ffdf8e850d1a 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_text/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ keywords = ["bevy"]
 
 [features]
 subpixel_glyph_atlas = []
+bevy_default_assets = []
 
 [dependencies]
 # bevy
diff --git a/assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf b/crates/bevy_text/src/assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
similarity index 100%
rename from assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf
rename to crates/bevy_text/src/assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
index a9ffce5f6ddbf..e7911de94b493 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
@@ -43,5 +43,8 @@ impl Plugin for TextPlugin {
             .insert_resource(DefaultTextPipeline::default())
             .add_system_to_stage(CoreStage::PostUpdate, text2d_system.system())
             .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Draw, text2d::draw_text2d_system.system());
+
+        #[cfg(feature = "bevy_default_assets")]
+        text::default_font::load_default_font(app);
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/src/text.rs b/crates/bevy_text/src/text.rs
index b077c2821574c..d04daeeca8c00 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_text/src/text.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/src/text.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-use bevy_asset::Handle;
+use bevy_asset::{Handle, HandleUntyped};
 use bevy_math::Size;
+use bevy_reflect::TypeUuid;
 use bevy_render::color::Color;
 use glyph_brush_layout::{HorizontalAlign, VerticalAlign};
 
@@ -91,9 +92,16 @@ pub struct TextStyle {
     pub color: Color,
 }
 
+#[cfg(feature = "bevy_default_assets")]
+pub const DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE: HandleUntyped =
+    HandleUntyped::weak_from_u64(crate::font::Font::TYPE_UUID, 12210261929130131812);
+
 impl Default for TextStyle {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
+            #[cfg(feature = "bevy_default_assets")]
+            font: DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE.typed(),
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "bevy_default_assets"))]
             font: Default::default(),
             font_size: 12.0,
             color: Color::WHITE,
@@ -105,3 +113,22 @@ impl Default for TextStyle {
 pub struct Text2dSize {
     pub size: Size,
 }
+
+#[cfg(feature = "bevy_default_assets")]
+pub(crate) mod default_font {
+    use crate::{Font, DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE};
+    use ab_glyph::{FontArc, FontRef};
+    use bevy_app::AppBuilder;
+    use bevy_asset::Assets;
+
+    pub(crate) fn load_default_font(app: &mut AppBuilder) {
+        let world = app.world_mut();
+        let world_cell = world.cell();
+        let mut fonts = world_cell.get_resource_mut::<Assets<Font>>().unwrap();
+        let font_bytes = include_bytes!("assets/fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf");
+        let font = FontRef::try_from_slice(font_bytes).unwrap();
+        let font = FontArc::new(font);
+        let font = Font { font };
+        fonts.set_untracked(DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE, font);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/Cargo.toml b/crates/bevy_ui/Cargo.toml
index b0d5921d9e479..6e553a12d4566 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/Cargo.toml
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ bevy_utils = { path = "../bevy_utils", version = "0.4.0" }
 # other
 stretch = "0.3"
 serde = {version = "1", features = ["derive"]}
-smallvec = "1.4"
\ No newline at end of file
+smallvec = "1.4"
diff --git a/examples/2d/contributors.rs b/examples/2d/contributors.rs
index 74db49dc9bda8..cb802f3f467dd 100644
--- a/examples/2d/contributors.rs
+++ b/examples/2d/contributors.rs
@@ -123,17 +123,17 @@ fn setup(
                     TextSection {
                         value: "Contributor showcase".to_string(),
                         style: TextStyle {
-                            font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                             font_size: 60.0,
                             color: Color::WHITE,
+                            ..Default::default()
                         },
                     },
                     TextSection {
                         value: "".to_string(),
                         style: TextStyle {
-                            font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                             font_size: 60.0,
                             color: Color::WHITE,
+                            ..Default::default()
                         },
                     },
                 ],
diff --git a/examples/2d/text2d.rs b/examples/2d/text2d.rs
index a8cbf3c38a2c9..ee15de6742c35 100644
--- a/examples/2d/text2d.rs
+++ b/examples/2d/text2d.rs
@@ -8,16 +8,16 @@ fn main() {
         .run();
 }
 
-fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
+fn setup(mut commands: Commands) {
     // 2d camera
     commands.spawn_bundle(OrthographicCameraBundle::new_2d());
     commands.spawn_bundle(Text2dBundle {
         text: Text::with_section(
             "This text is in the 2D scene.",
             TextStyle {
-                font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                 font_size: 60.0,
                 color: Color::WHITE,
+                ..Default::default()
             },
             TextAlignment {
                 vertical: VerticalAlign::Center,
diff --git a/examples/ecs/state.rs b/examples/ecs/state.rs
index eb130b3125b80..44b9b387e8e6d 100644
--- a/examples/ecs/state.rs
+++ b/examples/ecs/state.rs
@@ -29,11 +29,7 @@ struct MenuData {
     button_entity: Entity,
 }
 
-fn setup_menu(
-    mut commands: Commands,
-    asset_server: Res<AssetServer>,
-    button_materials: Res<ButtonMaterials>,
-) {
+fn setup_menu(mut commands: Commands, button_materials: Res<ButtonMaterials>) {
     // ui camera
     commands.spawn_bundle(UiCameraBundle::default());
     let button_entity = commands
@@ -56,9 +52,9 @@ fn setup_menu(
                 text: Text::with_section(
                     "Play",
                     TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 40.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.9, 0.9, 0.9),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                     Default::default(),
                 ),
diff --git a/examples/game/alien_cake_addict.rs b/examples/game/alien_cake_addict.rs
index e0f574713e547..a79d3158f51a8 100644
--- a/examples/game/alien_cake_addict.rs
+++ b/examples/game/alien_cake_addict.rs
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>, mut game: ResMu
         text: Text::with_section(
             "Score:",
             TextStyle {
-                font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                 font_size: 40.0,
                 color: Color::rgb(0.5, 0.5, 1.0),
+                ..Default::default()
             },
             Default::default(),
         ),
@@ -365,7 +365,6 @@ fn gameover_keyboard(mut state: ResMut<State<GameState>>, keyboard_input: Res<In
 // display the number of cake eaten before losing
 fn display_score(
     mut commands: Commands,
-    asset_server: Res<AssetServer>,
     game: Res<Game>,
     mut materials: ResMut<Assets<ColorMaterial>>,
 ) {
@@ -385,9 +384,9 @@ fn display_score(
                 text: Text::with_section(
                     format!("Cake eaten: {}", game.cake_eaten),
                     TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 80.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.5, 0.5, 1.0),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                     Default::default(),
                 ),
diff --git a/examples/game/breakout.rs b/examples/game/breakout.rs
index 23169838dc33b..82904281d8a11 100644
--- a/examples/game/breakout.rs
+++ b/examples/game/breakout.rs
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ fn setup(
                 TextSection {
                     value: "Score: ".to_string(),
                     style: TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 40.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.5, 0.5, 1.0),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                 },
                 TextSection {
diff --git a/examples/scene/scene.rs b/examples/scene/scene.rs
index 6fc809ed2da5a..3b920a9798480 100644
--- a/examples/scene/scene.rs
+++ b/examples/scene/scene.rs
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ fn save_scene_system(world: &mut World) {
 
 // This is only necessary for the info message in the UI. See examples/ui/text.rs for a standalone
 // text example.
-fn infotext_system(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
+fn infotext_system(mut commands: Commands) {
     commands.spawn_bundle(UiCameraBundle::default());
     commands.spawn_bundle(TextBundle {
         style: Style {
@@ -112,9 +112,9 @@ fn infotext_system(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
         text: Text::with_section(
             "Nothing to see in this window! Check the console output!",
             TextStyle {
-                font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                 font_size: 50.0,
                 color: Color::WHITE,
+                ..Default::default()
             },
             Default::default(),
         ),
diff --git a/examples/tools/bevymark.rs b/examples/tools/bevymark.rs
index 258c4715408e7..5feb71013972f 100644
--- a/examples/tools/bevymark.rs
+++ b/examples/tools/bevymark.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fn main() {
         .run();
 }
 
-fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
+fn setup(mut commands: Commands) {
     commands.spawn_bundle(OrthographicCameraBundle::new_2d());
     commands.spawn_bundle(UiCameraBundle::default());
     commands.spawn_bundle(TextBundle {
@@ -61,33 +61,33 @@ fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
                 TextSection {
                     value: "Bird Count: ".to_string(),
                     style: TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 40.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.0, 1.0, 0.0),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                 },
                 TextSection {
                     value: "".to_string(),
                     style: TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 40.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.0, 1.0, 1.0),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                 },
                 TextSection {
                     value: "\nAverage FPS: ".to_string(),
                     style: TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 40.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.0, 1.0, 0.0),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                 },
                 TextSection {
                     value: "".to_string(),
                     style: TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 40.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.0, 1.0, 1.0),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                 },
             ],
diff --git a/examples/ui/button.rs b/examples/ui/button.rs
index 6fc8e7f7a9483..635985e288e65 100644
--- a/examples/ui/button.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/button.rs
@@ -55,11 +55,7 @@ fn button_system(
     }
 }
 
-fn setup(
-    mut commands: Commands,
-    asset_server: Res<AssetServer>,
-    button_materials: Res<ButtonMaterials>,
-) {
+fn setup(mut commands: Commands, button_materials: Res<ButtonMaterials>) {
     // ui camera
     commands.spawn_bundle(UiCameraBundle::default());
     commands
@@ -82,9 +78,9 @@ fn setup(
                 text: Text::with_section(
                     "Button",
                     TextStyle {
-                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                         font_size: 40.0,
                         color: Color::rgb(0.9, 0.9, 0.9),
+                        ..Default::default()
                     },
                     Default::default(),
                 ),
diff --git a/examples/ui/font_atlas_debug.rs b/examples/ui/font_atlas_debug.rs
index ce4f81d4279a1..f96b81062fd14 100644
--- a/examples/ui/font_atlas_debug.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/font_atlas_debug.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use bevy::text::DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE;
 use bevy::{prelude::*, text::FontAtlasSet};
 
 // TODO: This is now broken. See #1243
@@ -77,17 +78,16 @@ fn text_update_system(mut state: ResMut<State>, time: Res<Time>, mut query: Quer
     }
 }
 
-fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>, mut state: ResMut<State>) {
-    let font_handle = asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf");
-    state.handle = font_handle.clone();
+fn setup(mut commands: Commands, mut state: ResMut<State>) {
+    state.handle = DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE.typed();
     commands.spawn_bundle(UiCameraBundle::default());
     commands.spawn_bundle(TextBundle {
         text: Text::with_section(
             "a",
             TextStyle {
-                font: font_handle,
                 font_size: 60.0,
                 color: Color::YELLOW,
+                ..Default::default()
             },
             Default::default(),
         ),
diff --git a/examples/ui/text.rs b/examples/ui/text.rs
index 54ca621cd02f7..29d768fd57f0e 100644
--- a/examples/ui/text.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/text.rs
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
                 // Accepts a `String` or any type that converts into a `String`, such as `&str`
                 "hello\nbevy!",
                 TextStyle {
-                    font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                     font_size: 100.0,
                     color: Color::WHITE,
+                    ..Default::default()
                 },
                 // Note: You can use `Default::default()` in place of the `TextAlignment`
                 TextAlignment {
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
                     TextSection {
                         value: "FPS: ".to_string(),
                         style: TextStyle {
-                            font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                             font_size: 60.0,
                             color: Color::WHITE,
+                            ..Default::default()
                         },
                     },
                     TextSection {
diff --git a/examples/ui/text_debug.rs b/examples/ui/text_debug.rs
index 418bb608b3417..e9d2776453fa8 100644
--- a/examples/ui/text_debug.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/text_debug.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use bevy::text::DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE;
 use bevy::{
     diagnostic::{Diagnostics, FrameTimeDiagnosticsPlugin},
     prelude::*,
@@ -19,8 +20,8 @@ fn main() {
 
 struct TextChanges;
 
-fn infotext_system(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
-    let font = asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf");
+fn infotext_system(mut commands: Commands) {
+    let font = DEFAULT_FONT_HANDLE.typed();
     commands.spawn_bundle(UiCameraBundle::default());
     commands.spawn_bundle(TextBundle {
         style: Style {
diff --git a/examples/ui/ui.rs b/examples/ui/ui.rs
index 9ef72554ba1fe..e71b73411c294 100644
--- a/examples/ui/ui.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/ui.rs
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ fn setup(
                                 text: Text::with_section(
                                     "Text Example",
                                     TextStyle {
-                                        font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                                         font_size: 30.0,
                                         color: Color::WHITE,
+                                        ..Default::default()
                                     },
                                     Default::default(),
                                 ),
diff --git a/examples/window/scale_factor_override.rs b/examples/window/scale_factor_override.rs
index 4865caeff4b4e..42aa910132a50 100644
--- a/examples/window/scale_factor_override.rs
+++ b/examples/window/scale_factor_override.rs
@@ -15,11 +15,7 @@ fn main() {
         .run();
 }
 
-fn setup(
-    mut commands: Commands,
-    asset_server: Res<AssetServer>,
-    mut materials: ResMut<Assets<ColorMaterial>>,
-) {
+fn setup(mut commands: Commands, mut materials: ResMut<Assets<ColorMaterial>>) {
     // ui camera
     commands.spawn_bundle(UiCameraBundle::default());
     // root node
@@ -54,9 +50,9 @@ fn setup(
                         text: Text::with_section(
                             "Example text",
                             TextStyle {
-                                font: asset_server.load("fonts/FiraSans-Bold.ttf"),
                                 font_size: 30.0,
                                 color: Color::WHITE,
+                                ..Default::default()
                             },
                             Default::default(),
                         ),