Unreal Engine 5 C++ Multiplayer Shooter

We learn about how multiplayer games are architected, and go over the peer-to-peer and client-server models, and learn which of these Unreal Engine uses.

We learn how to test multiplayer in the PIE

We connect two machines via a LAN connection

We learn about the Online Subsystem and how it provides an abstraction layer so we can use the same code for multiple online services

We learn about Online Sessions and how they work

We configure our project for Steam multiplayer

We learn how to access Unreal Engine's Online Subsystem from C++ code

We learn how to create an online session

We create the necessary setup for joining sessions

We discuss Steam Regions and why they can help improve our multiplayer network experience

We actually join a game session

We create our own plugin that can be added to any Unreal Engine project

We create our own custom Subsystem that is constructed alongside the Game Instance

We learn about delegates in the Session Interface

We create a Menu class

We access our own custom Subsystem

Read this important note on the OnLevelRemovedFromWorld function being replaced.

We create a multiplayer online session

We add function callbacks for our Subsystem's delegates

We create more delegates for our Subsystem

We implement joining sessions from our Menu

We track the number of incoming players in the Game Mode

We add a path to the Lobby level

We polish up our Menu Subsystem

We create our Multiplayer Project

Make sure you get this part right. If you can't create sessions, come back to this and make sure your DefaultEngine.ini matches this.

We test an Online Session in our new project

We get our hands on some free assets to use for our project

Follow the link in the resources to see how to retarget animations in Unreal Engine 5!

We retarget animations to our Character from the Epic Mannequin and the Mixamo Skeleton

We create the Blaster Character class

We add a Camera and a Spring Arm to our Blaster Character

We implement the basic movement functionality for our Blaster Character

We create the Anim Instance C++ class and a new Animation Blueprint for our Blaster Character

We learn about Seamless and Non-Seamless Travel and configure our game to use Seamless Travel

We learn about the concept of Network Role and how it works in Multiplayer

We create the Weapon class, which will be the parent for each of our specialized Weapons in the game

We create a Widget that can inform the player when they can pick up a Weapon

We learn how to mark a variable for replication, and replicate the current Overlapping Weapon

We create a Combat Component class to handle combat-related functionality, and create an EquipWeapon function so we can equip Weapons

We learn about RPCs (Remote Procedure Calls), which are functions designed to be called on one machine and executed on another

We add an equipped pose to our Animation Blueprint

We make use of the Crouch function, and take advantage of the multiplayer crouching capabilities built-in to the Character class

We add the ability to aim, and replicate the aiming state to all clients so they can see our Character in the aiming pose

We create our running Blendspace and add axis values for leaning and strafing

We calculate the necessary values to pass into our Blendspace to lean and strafe

We round out our animation Blueprint with Idle and Jumping states

We add the ability to crouch walk

We add an Aim Walking state, allowing our Character to change its speed and pose as we aim while walking

We extract animation poses from the Aim Offset animation, and convert them to additive animations

We apply our aiming poses to an Aim Offset asset and test its functionality

We discuss how rotational values are serialized and compressed before being sent across the network

We implement our aiming and hip Aim Offsets in our Animation Blueprint

We use Inverse Kinematics to place the left hand on a socket on the Weapon so our grip is always correct

We implement an algorithm for turning in place when our Yaw exceeds 90 degrees

We use a Rotate Root Bone node in our Animation Blueprint to implement turning in place

We discuss the Net Update Frequency, a variable that determines how often an Actor will be considered for replication

We add crouching capability to our Character when unequipped

We create rotated running animations for leaning

We add footstep and jump sounds to our running and jumping animations, and make sure they have sound attenuations

We discuss the difference between Hit Scan and Projectile Weapons, and create our first specialized weapon type: the Projectile Weapon

We create a weapon firing Animation Montage and play it in response to user input

We add Weapon firing effects so we can see and hear gunshots

We implement our fire effects in multiplayer so all machines can see when someone fires

We calculate a Hit Target vector so we can launch our projectiles precisely

We spawn projectiles when firing the weapon

We add a Projectile Movement Component to our Projectile class so it can fly through the air

We add a tracer to our projectile so we can see rapid-flying projectiles

We send the Hit Target data to the server so it knows where to launch the projectile

We bind a function to the OnHit delegate on our projectile's collision box

We create a class for bullet shells and spawn bullet shells from our weapon when we fire

We add an impulse to the crosshairs so we can launch them from the weapon, and play shells sounds with a Hit Event

We create a Blaster Player Controller and a Blaster HUD class for our game

We create a function for drawing the HUD textures to the screen

We add the ability to spread and shrink the crosshairs based on in-game events

We transform the right hand so our weapon always faces the direction we're shooting

We zoom in while aiming our weapon

Shrink Crosshairs when Aiming

Change Crosshairs Color

We extend the starting point of our line trace so we never hit our own Character or shoot in the wrong direction

We implement hit reactions when our projectiles hit the Blaster Character

We eliminate jitter for all simulated proxies in our game

We convert our weapons from semi-auto to full auto

We increase our Server Net Tick Rate to 120 and test the game in true multiplayer

We discuss the Unreal Engine Game Framework and how classes work in multiplayer

We create a Health variable and a Character Overlay widget to display a Health Bar

We create the system for updating our Health in the HUD when our Health value changes

We add the ability to damage players when our bullets trigger hit events

We create the Game Mode for our Blaster Map

We create an animation for when the player is eliminated

We learn how to respawn the player at a randomized Player Start location

We create a custom dissolve material for when a player is eliminated

We learn how we can apply the dissolve material to the Character mesh

We create curves for changing the dissolve material dynamically and add a Timeline Component in C++

We disable player movement while still being able to rotate the camera when eliminated

We add a particle effect for an elim bot to beam the player up when eliminated

We discuss the OnPossess function on the Player Controller and how to use it

We create a Player State for our Blaster Character so we can keep track of Player Score

We track the number of Defeats for the player

Optional challenge

We add Weapon Ammo and display it on the HUD

We implement some checks to make sure the character can fire

We implement Carried Ammo so the player can have ammo on their person in addition to Weapon Ammo

We display the Carried Ammo in the HUD

We implement reloading our weapon using our Carried Ammo

We add a Reloading Combat State to our Combat State enum

We prevent the firing of our Weapon when not appropriate to fire

We update the ammo when reloading

We add some effects to accommodate our Weapon Reload

We auto reload when we run out of ammo

Optional Challenge

We implement a working game timer and display it in the HUD

We use the round-trip time to sync our client and server time so all clients and the server display the same value in their countdown timer

We discuss the Game Mode's Match State and how we can utilize it and even create our own Match States

We look to the Game Mode to see how it reacts to when the Match State is set and we follow its example

We add a warmup timer for the Waiting To Start Match State

We update the warmup time while in the Waiting To Start Match State

We create our own Custom Match State for the match Cooldown

We create an announcement for the Cooldown State so we can display the winner

We implement restarting the game when the Cooldown timer has finished

We create our own Game State so we can keep track of the Top Scoring Players

Optional Challenge: Blinking Countdown Text

We create a Rocket Projectile class for Rocket Launchers

We create our own Niagara System for the Rocket Trail

We spawn our Rocket Trail Niagara System when we launch a rocket

We create a custom Projectile Movement Component so we can handle how our rockets behave with more control

We create a Hit Scan weapon class and implement its functionality

We use Beam Particles to see the trail for our Hit Scan Weapon

We create a Submachine Gun Blueprint based on the Hit Scan Weapon class

We add physics to the strap on our Submachine Gun so it flops and dangles dynamically

We create a shotgun class based on Hit Scan Weapon

We devise an algorithm for creating random scatter for our weapons

We create a Sniper Rifle Blueprint based on our Hit Scan weapon class

We implement a sniper scope for sniper rifles

We create a Grenade Launcher based on Projectile Weapon

We create a Projectile Grenade class and configure it for Grenade Launcher Grenades

We add reload animations to our reload montage so each weapon reloads differently

We handle Shotgun reloading differently than all the other weapons

We add a weapon outline effect so our weapons are more easily visible

We create a Grenade Throwing montage so we can throw grenades

We handle attaching the weapon to the left hand while our right hand throws a grenade

We get more assets for our throwing grenades

We toggle the visibility of the grenade in our Character's hand while throwing it

We spawn grenades when throwing them

We configure grenades for a multiplayer game

We display the number of grenades in our HUD

Optional Challenge: Create a new weapon!