Book Image

Multiplayer Game Development with Unreal Engine 5

By : Marco Secchi
Book Image

Multiplayer Game Development with Unreal Engine 5

By: Marco Secchi

Overview of this book

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. By the end of this book, you’ll have the confidence to develop and manage multiplayer experiences using the Unreal Engine environment, taking your newfound programming skills in your upcoming projects.

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Table of Contents (22 chapters)
Preface
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
Download the example code files
Conventions used
Get in touch
Share Your Thoughts
Download a free PDF copy of this book
1
Part 1:Introducing Multiplayer Games
Part 1:Introducing Multiplayer Games
Free Chapter
2
Chapter 1: Getting Started with Multiplayer Game Development
Chapter 1: Getting Started with Multiplayer Game Development
Technical requirements
Introducing multiplayer games
Understanding multiplayer game categories
Reviewing gameplay twists
Is multiplayer technology just for games?
Summary
3
Chapter 2: Understanding Networking Basics
Chapter 2: Understanding Networking Basics
Technical requirements
What is computer networking?
Types of computer networks
Introducing network protocols
Understanding network issues
Introducing the Unreal Engine multiplayer system
Summary
Credits
4
Chapter 3: Testing the Multiplayer System with a Project Prototype
Chapter 3: Testing the Multiplayer System with a Project Prototype
Technical requirements
Creating a multiplayer game prototype
Testing a multiplayer game locally
Updating properties over the network
Executing functions over the network
Summary
5
Part 2:Networking and Multiplayer Games in Unreal Engine
Part 2:Networking and Multiplayer Games in Unreal Engine
6
Chapter 4: Setting Up Your First Multiplayer Environment
Chapter 4: Setting Up Your First Multiplayer Environment
Technical requirements
Introducing Unreal Shadows – Legacy of the Lichlord
Understanding C++ in Unreal Engine
Starting your Unreal multiplayer project
Adding the player classes
Summary
7
Chapter 5: Managing Actors in a Multiplayer Environment
Chapter 5: Managing Actors in a Multiplayer Environment
Technical requirements
Setting up the character
Controlling the connection of an Actor
Understanding Actor relevancy
Introducing authority
Summary
8
Chapter 6: Replicating Properties Over the Network
Chapter 6: Replicating Properties Over the Network
Technical requirements
Adding character stats
Understanding property replication
Handling character level-ups
Adding a HUD to the game
Summary
9
Chapter 7: Using Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs)
Chapter 7: Using Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs)
Technical requirements
Understanding what an RPC is
Executing RPCs over the network
Implementing a door system
Summary
10
Part 3:Improving Your Game
Part 3:Improving Your Game
11
Chapter 8: Introducing AI into a Multiplayer Environment
Chapter 8: Introducing AI into a Multiplayer Environment
Technical requirements
Setting up the AI system
Creating an AI opponent
Adding opponents to the level
Summary
12
Chapter 9: Extending AI Behaviors
Chapter 9: Extending AI Behaviors
Technical requirements
Making AI opponents more challenging
Implementing an alert system
Adding health to the AI
Adding a weapon system to the character
Creating AI variations
Summary
13
Chapter 10: Enhancing the Player Experience
Chapter 10: Enhancing the Player Experience
Technical requirements
Animating the character
Adding NPC Actors
Making further improvements to the game
Summary
14
Chapter 11: Debugging a Multiplayer Game
Chapter 11: Debugging a Multiplayer Game
Technical requirements
Introducing network debugging
Emulating a networked environment
Using the Network Profiler
Improving performance and bandwidth utilization
Summary
15
Part 4:Deploying Your Game Online
Part 4:Deploying Your Game Online
16
Chapter 12: Managing Multiplayer Sessions
Chapter 12: Managing Multiplayer Sessions
Technical requirements
Understanding game sessions
Preparing a project game session
Creating a session
Joining a session
Summary
17
Chapter 13: Handling Data During a Session
Chapter 13: Handling Data During a Session
Technical requirements
Creating the main menu level
Handling data during a session
Making further improvements
Summary
18
Chapter 14: Deploying Multiplayer Games
Chapter 14: Deploying Multiplayer Games
Technical requirements
Going online for real
Compiling the Unreal Engine
Setting up a dedicated server
Summary
19
Chapter 15: Adding Epic Online Services (EOS)
Chapter 15: Adding Epic Online Services (EOS)
Technical requirements
Introducing EOS
Accessing the Developer Portal
Getting started with the EOS SDK
Summary
20
Index
Index
Why subscribe?
21
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Getting Started with Multiplayer Game Development

Welcome to the wonderful world of multiplayer game development in Unreal Engine! I am really excited that you have selected me and my book as a guide to this sometimes scary technology; I promise that I’ll do my best to make this journey as easy and as entertaining as possible.

Throughout the book, you will learn how to create an Unreal Engine multiplayer game from scratch, handle client/server logic, manage AI opponents, test and profile the network, and take advantage of available cloud services. By the end, you will be proficient in creating a networked video game and have a deep knowledge of many of the pitfalls and how to avoid them.

In this chapter, you will get an overview of what a multiplayer game is, its origins, and the different types of multiplayer games that are available today. Additionally, you will explore how the technology used in multiplayer games has been applied in contexts outside of gaming.

In this chapter, I will discuss the following topics:

  • Introducing multiplayer games
  • Understanding multiplayer game categories
  • Exploring gameplay twists
  • Is multiplayer technology just for games?
Previous Section
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