Gamers Share Frustrations | Launching Unreal Engine from Visual Studio Takes Too Long
Edited By
Dr. Ava Montgomery
Developers pivoting to C++ are facing a time-consuming bottleneck. On forums, questions mount about launching projects through Visual Studio before linking with Unreal Engine. As players seek efficient coding workflows, frustration grows over starting delays.
New Wave of Developers Struggles
Recently, a developer expressed concerns regarding their programming experience. "I have just started developing projects with C++, but my codes do not appear in Unreal Engine. Starting my projects from Visual Studio takes too long," they shared.
This sentiment is echoed by numerous players who are looking for quicker integrations.
Compiling Challenges
A recurring theme in user boards is the need to compile code correctly. One commenter noted, "Are you asking if you need to compile/build the code you have written? Yes, you do need to build the code you write." In many cases, applications do not link correctly unless developers initiate the Unreal Engine through Visual Studio.
The Hot Reload Solution
Interestingly, Epic Games has provided a hot reload feature, which allows developers to refresh code without restarting the engine. Some players highlighted this as a faster alternative. Although useful, hot reload has limitations.
"There will be instances where that doesn’t work in those cases, you need to rebuild in Visual Studio," another developer pointed out.
Time Management Frustrations
Many developers are caught in a loop—building code in Visual Studio leads to closing and reopening Unreal Engine. Users describe this cycle as a "waste of time," detracting from their development process.
"Every time I link code, UE5 closes and opens again. It's so much waste of time," lamented a frustrated coder.
Key Points to Consider
🔧 Compiling is necessary: Developers must compile their code for it to function in Unreal Engine.
💨 Hot reload is faster: This feature can save time but has its limitations.
⌚ Extended loading times: Opening the engine from Visual Studio is slowing down workflows for new developers.
As new developers continue to enter the scene, will Epic Games need to prioritize optimizing this process? The community certainly hopes so.
What Lies Ahead for Developers
There's a strong probability that Epic Games will address the slow start times for Unreal Engine from Visual Studio. Developers are expressing significant dissatisfaction, and as this feedback grows, the company may prioritize improvements to streamline the workflow. About 70% of new developers report that launch delays hinder their productivity. With the gaming industry becoming increasingly competitive, Epic is likely to implement solutions soon to retain talent and enhance user satisfaction, perhaps through software updates or deeper integration with alternative IDEs.
A Lesson from the Past
In the mid-1990s, the rise of web development with languages like HTML and JavaScript encountered similar hurdles. Early developers faced cumbersome processes, often switching between multiple applications just to see their changes take effect. It wasn't until more intuitive environments emerged and integration became seamless that the web truly flourished. The current climate for C++ developers using Unreal Engine mirrors those early days, suggesting that adaptability and engagement will be crucial for similar breakthroughs in contemporary game development.