Unreal Engine 5 for Beginners (Paperback)

Zhenyu George Li

ISBN 10: 1806105918 / ISBN 13: 9781806105915

Editore: Packt Publishing Limited, Birmingham, 2026

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Paperback. Learn Unreal Engine 5 through a hands-on game project, progressing step by step from editor basics and Blueprints to AI, UI, cinematics, polish, and packagingFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesBuild a complete third-person game through a practical, step-by-step workflowDevelop gameplay systems using Blueprints without writing codeCreate levels, a player character, enemy AI, UI, gameplay, and an opening cutscene in one projectSolve common problems encountered during game development*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredBook DescriptionLearning Unreal Engine 5 can feel overwhelming when youre faced with a professional game engine, multiple editors, and interconnected systems. Instead of overwhelming technical jargon, this book takes a clear, step-by-step approach that shows you how the essential tools fit together as you create a playable game.Youll begin by installing Unreal Engine, setting up your first project, and exploring the editor to build and light levels. As you progress, youll create gameplay with Blueprints, import and animate a player character, and configure controls with Enhanced Input. Youll then develop AI enemies and implement gameplay rules, mission objectives, and win-and-lose conditions.The book also guides you through creating a main menu and heads-up display (HUD) with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG), producing an introductory cut-scene with Sequencer, and polishing your game with environment assets, audio, and Niagara effects. Finally, youll package the project as a standalone Windows game.By the end, youll have built a playable third-person game and gained a foundation in Unreal Engine 5. Youll understand how its core tools and systems work together in a game development workflow, giving you the practical skills and confidence to create your own projects and take your first steps toward more advanced game development.What you will learnBuild and prototype 3D game levels using Unreal's Level EditorCreate gameplay logic visually with Blueprints (no coding required)Import, animate, and set up a playable characterConfigure player controls using Unreal's Enhanced Input systemBuild enemy AI that can sense and chase the player using Behavior TreesDesign menus and HUDs with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG)Produce an introductory cut-scene using the SequencerPolish your game and package it into a standalone playable fileWho this book is forThis book is for aspiring game developers, students, and hobbyists who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through hands-on game development. Whether transitioning from another engine or starting fresh, readers will find step-by-step guidance accessible. No prior Unreal Engine or programming experience is required. You should have basic computer skills and be familiar with common video game controls, mechanics, and objectives. It also suits artists, designers, and programmers who want to learn Unreal Engine 5 through practical, hands-on game development and prototyping. Learn Unreal Engine 5 by building a playable third-person game from scratch. This beginner-friendly guide uses a step-by-step project to help you create Blueprints, AI, UI, and cinematics while gaining practical game development skills. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Codice articolo 9781806105915

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Unreal Engine 5 for Beginners (Paperback)
• Editore: Packt Publishing Limited, Birmingham
• Data di pubblicazione: 2026
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1806105918
• ISBN 13: 9781806105915
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: new

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Learn Unreal Engine 5 step by step with this beginner-friendly guide. Build a playable third-person game while working with Blueprints, AI, UI, cinematics, and packaging for real game projects

Key Features

• Learn Unreal Engine 5 by building a complete third-person game step by step
• Develop gameplay systems using Blueprints without writing code
• Create levels, a player character, AI characters, UI, gameplay, and an opening cutscene through the hands-on project

Book Description

Unreal Engine 5 for Beginners is a hands-on guide designed for aspiring developers, students, and hobbyists with little or no prior experience. Instead of overwhelming technical jargon, it takes a clear, step-by-step approach that helps readers quickly get comfortable with Unreal’s powerful tools.

You’ll begin by installing Unreal Engine, setting up your first project, and exploring the editor to build and light simple levels. As you progress, you’ll learn how to script gameplay with Blueprints, create characters with animations, and set up player inputs for smooth control. Later chapters introduce AI-driven enemies, gameplay rules, and mission objectives that bring your world to life.

The book also covers building user interfaces with UMG, producing cinematic cutscenes using Sequencer, and adding polish with visual and audio effects. Finally, you’ll learn optimization techniques and packaging workflows to prepare your game for distribution.

By the end of this book, you’ll have built a fully playable third-person game and gained a solid foundation in Unreal Engine 5. Whether you want to create interactive 3D experiences, prepare for more advanced projects, or take the first step toward a career in game development, this guide gives you the confidence and skills to begin your journey.

What you will learn

• Set up Unreal Engine and create your first project
• Build and edit game levels using the Level Editor
• Create gameplay logic using Blueprints
• Design and animate player characters
• Implement player input and controls
• Add AI-driven enemies and behaviors
• Build UI, cinematics, and package your game

Who this book is for

This book is for aspiring game developers, students, and hobbyists with little or no Unreal Engine experience. Whether transitioning from another engine or starting fresh, readers will find step-by-step guidance accessible. It also suits artists, designers, and programmers who want to create 3D games, prototypes, or simulations through practical, hands-on examples.

Table of Contents

1. Installing Unreal Engine and Creating Your First Game Project
2. Building Your First Game World in the Level Editor
3. Learning the Basics of Blueprints
4. Creating the Player Character
5. Handling Player Inputs
6. Adding Enemy Characters with AI
7. Designing and Implementing the Gameplay Rules
8. Creating Cinematics with Sequencer
9. Building Game Menus and User Interfaces
10. Polishing, Optimizing, and Packaging Your Game

Informazioni sugli autori

Zhenyu George Li is a veteran software engineer and passionate game developer with over 20 years in the industry. As a Senior Development Software Engineer at Unity, he advances tools and workflows that power modern games. His career spans commercial titles such as Sandbox, Halo Infinite, Magic Arena, Stela, Dead Rising 2, and The Bigs 2. With expertise in engines, AI, graphics, animation, physics, networking, and UI, he brings broad technical depth. George has also taught Unreal Engine, programming, and software engineering at institutions including Vancouver Film School, sharing his knowledge with future developers.

Charles Shih-I Yeh studied computer science at the University of Southern California and began his career in games in the early 2000s. He has built proprietary engines, developed DCC tools to optimize pipelines, and designed gameplay mechanics, multiplayer systems, and tournament services for MMORPGs. Dedicated to education, Charles has lectured on game programming at several universities. He is the author of two game design books and the official Mandarin translator of several well-known programming titles, including Game Programming Gems IV.

Michael Oakes is a Software Development Manager at Unity with nearly a decade in games and 29 years in IT. Based in Calgary, he holds a Master's degree in Computer Science with Games and Graphics Development from the University of Hull. His expertise includes mixed reality design, shader programming, AI, and multiplayer systems. Michael has also contributed as a technical consultant to books such as Unity Learn ML-Agents, Practical AI on the Google Cloud Platform, Unreal Engine 5 Game Development with C++ Scripting, and Practical C++ Game Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms.