Unreal Engine 5: Creating Main Menu

Unreal Engine 5: Creating Main Menu

Create Optimized and Professional Menus with Widget Blueprints from scratch (Beginner to Advanced).

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What you'll learn

• Fundamentals for creating Professional and game-ready Main Menus.
• UI Animation for Beginners: Hover Buttons, Dialog Boxes and more.
• Optimization techniques and best practices that are not shown on Youtube!
• Responsive UI for all devices: Mobile/Tablet/PC/Laptop/TV.
• Nesting Widgets (in depth explanations).
• Import and play Videos and Background Music in game.
• Change the Video Settings in game.
• Animated Logo Splash Screen.
• Game Intro with Video and a Skip Button.
• Custom Events, Functions, Variables, Timers.

Creating a main menu in Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) is a fundamental step in game development, as it serves as the player's gateway to your game. A well-designed main menu can set the tone for your game, reflect its aesthetic, and provide users with intuitive navigation. This guide covers the essential steps to design, implement, and customize a main menu in UE5.

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Why a Main Menu Matters

Before diving into the technical details, it’s worth understanding the importance of the main menu. It is often the first impression players get of your game. It provides essential functionality like starting a new game, loading saved data, adjusting settings, or exiting the application. A visually appealing and user-friendly main menu can enhance the player experience and establish a strong first connection with your game.

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Getting Started

To create a main menu in UE5, you need to use the Widget Blueprint system. This system provides a visual scripting environment that allows developers to create interactive menus and interfaces without writing extensive code.

Prerequisites:

1. Unreal Engine 5 installed on your computer.
2. A basic understanding of the UE5 interface and the Blueprint system.
3. Assets like background images, fonts, and audio for the menu theme (optional).

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Step-by-Step Guide

1. Setting Up Your Project

1. Open your Unreal Engine 5 project.
2. If you don’t have a project, create a new one by selecting the Game template and choosing a Blank or Third Person Template. Ensure the project is set up with either Blueprint or C++ (Blueprint is more common for UI design).

2. Creating a Main Menu Widget

1. In the Content Browser, create a new folder named "UI" or "MainMenu" to keep your assets organized.
2. Right-click inside the folder and go to User Interface > Widget Blueprint. Name it MainMenuWidget.

3. Designing the Main Menu Layout

1. Double-click the MainMenuWidget to open it in the UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) editor.
2. Add a Canvas Panel from the Palette. This serves as the base for all UI elements.
3. Start adding the following elements:
   • Background: Add an Image widget to serve as the menu background. Set the image’s texture to your preferred background asset.
   • Title Text: Use a Text widget to display the game’s title. Customize the font, size, and color in the Details panel.
   • Buttons: Add Button widgets for each menu option (e.g., Play, Settings, Quit). Use child Text widgets to label them appropriately.

4. Styling the Menu

• Fonts: Import custom fonts if desired and apply them to your text widgets.
• Button Appearance: Adjust the button’s Hovered, Pressed, and Normal states using the Style section in the Details panel. Add animations to make the buttons feel interactive.
• Audio: Assign sound effects for button clicks and hover actions by adding Audio Components or triggering sounds in Blueprints.

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5. Adding Functionality to Buttons

1. Play Button:

   • Select the Play button in the widget editor.
   • In the Details panel, scroll to the Events section and click + OnClicked to create a new event in the Event Graph.
   • In the Event Graph, use the Open Level node to load your game level. Specify the name of the level you want to load.

2. Settings Button:

   • Create a new widget blueprint called SettingsMenuWidget.
   • Design the settings menu layout similarly.
   • In the MainMenuWidget Event Graph, use the Create Widget node to load the SettingsMenuWidget when the Settings button is clicked. Use the Add to Viewport node to display it.

3. Quit Button:

   • Bind the Quit button to the Quit Game node, which will close the application when clicked.

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6. Integrating the Main Menu

1. In the Content Browser, create a new level specifically for the main menu. Name it MainMenuLevel.
2. Open the level and remove any unnecessary actors (e.g., player start or default geometry).
3. In the Level Blueprint, use the Event BeginPlay node to load and display the MainMenuWidget. Use the Create Widget and Add to Viewport nodes.

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7. Adding Animations

To make your main menu more engaging, consider adding animations.

1. In the MainMenuWidget editor, select an element (e.g., Title Text or Buttons).
2. Open the Animation timeline at the bottom of the screen and click Create to add a new animation.
3. Add keyframes to animate properties like position, scale, opacity, or color.
4. Play the animation on menu load by triggering it in the Event Graph using the Play Animation node.

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8. Customizing the Menu

Background Music

• Add a background audio track to the main menu by placing an Audio Component in the level and assigning a looping music asset.

Visual Effects

• Add particle systems (e.g., animated smoke or sparkles) to create dynamic effects in the background.

Dynamic Backgrounds

• Use animated textures or material shaders to create dynamic backgrounds that enhance the aesthetic of your menu.

Input Support

• For controller or keyboard navigation, enable focus settings in the Widget Blueprint. Use the Set Input Mode Game and UI node to ensure smooth input handling.

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9. Testing and Debugging

1. Test your main menu by launching the MainMenuLevel from the editor.
2. Check each button’s functionality and ensure that levels load correctly.
3. Verify that settings persist across sessions (if applicable).

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10. Packaging the Game

When your main menu is complete, package your game to test it as a standalone application:

1. Go to File > Package Project and select your platform (e.g., Windows, Mac).
2. Build the project and run the executable to ensure the main menu works as expected.

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Tips for an Effective Main Menu

• Consistency: Align the menu’s design with the overall theme and style of your game.
• Simplicity: Keep navigation intuitive by avoiding clutter.
• Performance: Optimize assets to ensure smooth performance, especially if your main menu includes animations or high-quality backgrounds.
• Feedback: Provide clear feedback for user actions (e.g., button click sounds, visual highlights).

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Conclusion

Creating a main menu in Unreal Engine 5 is a straightforward process that combines visual design, interactivity, and functionality. By using UMG, Blueprints, and a bit of creativity, you can craft a menu that captivates players and reflects your game’s unique style. With proper planning and execution, your main menu will serve as a strong introduction to the immersive world you’ve created.

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