Multiplayer Game Development with Unreal Engine 5: Create compelling multiplayer games with C++, Blueprints, and Unreal Engine's networking features

Cover....1

Title Page....2

Copyright and Credits....3

Dedications....4

Contributors....5

Table of Contents....8

Preface....16

Part 1: Introducing Multiplayer Games....22

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Multiplayer Game Development....24

Technical requirements....24

Pre-requisite knowledge....25

Hardware requirements....25

Software requirements....26

Introducing multiplayer games....29

Becoming a network programmer in video games....30

Understanding multiplayer game categories....31

First-person shooters....31

Third-person shooters....31

Real-time strategy....31

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games....32

Multi-user dungeons....32

Multiplayer online battle arena....32

Reviewing gameplay twists....33

Asymmetrical gameplay....33

Hide-and-seek gameplay....33

Asynchronous gameplay....34

Is multiplayer technology just for games?....34

Cinematography....34

Architecture....35

Education....35

Unreal’s Collab Viewer template....35

Summary....37

Chapter 2: Understanding Networking Basics....38

Technical requirements....38

What is computer networking?....38

Types of computer networks....39

Local Area Networks....40

Wide Area Networks....41

Virtual Private Networks....42

Introducing network protocols....42

Packet switching....43

TCP/IP suite....44

Understanding network issues....46

Security....47

Packet loss....47

Latency....47

Introducing the Unreal Engine multiplayer system....47

Network modes and server types....48

The replication system....48

Network role....49

Pawns and PlayerControllers....49

Relevance and priority....49

Remote Procedure Calls....50

Summary....50

Credits....50

Chapter 3: Testing the Multiplayer System with a Project Prototype....52

Technical requirements....52

Creating a multiplayer game prototype....53

Setting up the project from a template....53

Adding Quixel Megascans....54

Modifying the Player Controller....58

Testing a multiplayer game locally....59

Playing as a Listen Server....59

Updating over the network....61

Adding additional character spawn points....62

Updating properties over the network....64

Creating the pickup Blueprint....64

Adding pickup variants....67

Adding a points counter to the character....69

Executing functions over the network....72

Spawning Actors....72

Skinning characters....76

Testing the game....79

Summary....80

Part 2: Networking and Multiplayer Games in Unreal Engine....82

Chapter 4: Setting Up Your First Multiplayer Environment....84

Technical requirements....84

Introducing Unreal Shadows – Legacy of the Lichlord....85

Explaining the project brief....85

Starting the project....86

Understanding C++ in Unreal Engine....87

Blueprints and C++....88

Understanding C++ classes....88

Anatomy of a UE C++ header....90

The Unreal Engine Reflection System....91

Memory management and garbage collection....92

Starting your Unreal multiplayer project....92

Creating your project file....93

Creating the project game instance....94

Creating the Game Mode and the Game State....98

Adding the player classes....99

Compiling your source code....100

Creating the Character Blueprint Class....101

Adding the Player classes to the Game Mode....101

Summary....103

Chapter 5: Managing Actors in a Multiplayer Environment....104

Technical requirements....104

Setting up the character....105

Adding basic settings to the character....105

Adding interaction to the character....110

Importing the Enhanced Input Module....118

Adding user interaction to the character....118

Testing the character’s movement....124

Controlling the connection of an Actor....124

Understanding Actor relevancy....126

Understanding relevancy....126

Testing relevancy....127

Testing the relevancy settings....132

Introducing authority....135

Controlling authority with the Role and Remote Role properties of an Actor....135

Autonomous and simulated proxy....136

Summary....136

Chapter 6: Replicating Properties Over the Network....138

Technical requirements....139

Adding character stats....139

Creating the stats structure....139

Creating a stats data table....141

Reading the data table from the character....144

Adding the data table to the character....146

Understanding property replication....147

Enabling property replication....147

Referencing Actors and components over the network....148

Handling character level-ups....149

Planning ahead....150

Declaring PlayerState properties and functions....150

Implementing the PlayerState logic....152

Adding coin pickups to the level....154

Adding a HUD to the game....157

Creating the Widget Blueprint....157

Adding code logic to the Widget Blueprint....158

Adding the HUD to the character....163

Testing the game....164

Summary....165

Chapter 7: Using Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs)....166

Technical requirements....166

Understanding what an RPC is....167

Reliability of an RPC....168

Validating RPCs....168

Executing RPCs over the network....169

Calling a function on the server....170

Implementing a door system....172

Creating the Interactable interface....172

Implementing the interact action....174

Creating the door Blueprint....177

Testing the interact action....180

Summary....181

Part 3: Improving Your Game....182

Chapter 8: Introducing AI into a Multiplayer Environment....184

Technical requirements....184

Setting up the AI system....185

Creating an AI opponent....186

Adding the navigation module....187

Creating the minion class....187

Implementing the minions’ behaviors....189

Adding opponents to the level....195

Creating a spawner class....196

Testing the spawner....198

Summary....200

Chapter 9: Extending AI Behaviors....202

Technical requirements....202

Making AI opponents more challenging....203

Making some noise....203

Enabling the hearing sense....204

Testing the hearing sense....206

Implementing an alert system....207

Declaring the Game Mode functions....207

Making the AI send alert messages....208

Adding health to the AI....210

Adding a weapon system to the character....212

Creating a dagger projectile....212

Implementing the weapon component....215

Attaching the WeaponProjectile component to the character....219

Adding an input system for the weapon....220

Testing the weapon system....223

Creating AI variations....224

Creating an AI sentinel....225

Creating an AI miniboss....228

Updating the minion spawner....230

Summary....232

Chapter 10: Enhancing the Player Experience....234

Technical requirements....235

Animating the character....235

Creating the animation assets....235

Adding the Animation System to the character....243

Adding the throw animation....245

Adding NPC Actors....247

Creating the NPC character....248

Testing the NPC Actor....252

Making further improvements to the game....253

Let’s make some noise!....253

I need a key!....254

Improve your arsenal, my hero!....254

You are not a machine gun....254

No time to waste....255

Tables, tables everywhere!....255

Need some help?....255

Summary....256

Chapter 11: Debugging a Multiplayer Game....258

Technical requirements....259

Introducing network debugging....259

Explaining game debugging....260

Introducing multiplayer options....260

Logging in a networked environment....262

Filtering the LogNet category....264

Creating a custom log category....265

Emulating a networked environment....267

Enabling network emulation....267

Testing the game with network emulation....271

Using the Network Profiler....273

Recording a profiling session....274

Analyzing a profiling session....275

Improving performance and bandwidth utilization....281

Turning on replication only when necessary....281

Avoiding invoking RPCs that are not required or essential....281

Distinguishing between reliable and unreliable RPCs....281

Validating data....282

Remembering that the GameMode exists only on the server....282

Using a naming convention for RPCs....282

Summary....283

Part 4: Deploying Your Game Online....284

Chapter 12: Managing Multiplayer Sessions....286

Technical requirements....286

Understanding game sessions....287

Introducing the Online Subsystem....287

Understanding session commands....288

Understanding connection errors....289

Preparing a project game session....290

Creating a session....291

Adding the visual elements....292

Implementing the Visual Scripting logic....295

Joining a session....298

Creating the SessionItemRenderer widget....298

Creating the FindSessions widget....303

Creating the Main Menu widget....314

Summary....315

Chapter 13: Handling Data During a Session....316

Technical requirements....317

Creating the main menu level....317

Creating the Pawn....317

Creating the GameMode....319

Creating the level....320

Testing the session system....321

Handling data during a session....322

Updating the US_GameInstance class....323

Adding the CharacterSkins data....323

Updating the US_MainMenuPawn class....326

Updating the BP_MainMenuPawn Blueprint....328

Updating the US_Character class....329

Updating the BP_Character Blueprint....332

Making further improvements....334

Leaving and destroying sessions....334

Handling player death....334

Selecting the player skin....334

Summary....335

Chapter 14: Deploying Multiplayer Games....336

Technical requirements....336

Going online for real....336

Compiling the Unreal Engine....338

Downloading the Unreal Engine source project....338

Compiling from the source code....341

Setting up a dedicated server....350

Creating the project....350

Building the project solution....351

Building the dedicated server....354

Testing the project....357

Summary....359

Chapter 15: Adding Epic Online Services (EOS)....360

Technical requirements....360

Introducing EOS....361

Accessing the Developer Portal....362

Accessing the Epic Games Developer Portal....362

Creating a Product....364

Configuring the Product services....366

Getting started with the EOS SDK....375

Downloading the EOS SDK....375

Integrating the system into your game....377

Summary....379

Index....380

Other Books You May Enjoy....391

If you’re fascinated by the immersive gaming experiences that enable multiple users to engage in collaborative or competitive gameplay, this Unreal Engine 5 game development book is for you.

In this book, you’ll learn the foundational principles behind multiplayer games. Starting with a sample project, you’ll learn how to set up a networked system and make it work. Once the prototype of the project is functional, you’ll start adding game logic, including obstacles and AI opponents, to heighten the challenges and engagement, offering a captivating experience for players. Next, you’ll learn how to debug and optimize the project, before finally deploying the game build and integrating it with cloud services such as the Epic Online Services system.