How to run two game instances on the same computer?

Development Programming & Scripting Multiplayer & Networking
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1

I would like to run a multiplayer game with one server instance and one client instance on the same computer.

However, everytime I start a new instance, the previous one is closed with a “LogWindows: FPlatformMisc::RequestExit(0)” message in the logs.

I’m using a brand new project on Unreal 4.14 using the FirstPersonExampleMap. But even without the multiplayer options, it is not possible to run the same game two times.

Is there an option to disable this behaviour ? Thanks

2

There must be something strange about your setup then. I run a dozen server instances and multiple client instances of the game on one PC and have never had that issue. Is this just a blank example map or do you have any custom you are doing that might be causing this issue?

3

It’s a blank map, but it’s a computer with SteamVR.

4

I’m having the same issue.

5

You can just disable SteamVR Plugin to solve this problem.
finds more details in LevelTick.CPP.

if (GEngine->HMDDevice.IsValid())
{
	GEngine->HMDDevice->OnStartGameFrame( GEngine->GetWorldContextFromWorldChecked( this ) );
}
6

Run client in editor and build the game for the server. Not sure if that works though never tried just trying to help. (:

7

I’m having a similar issue. Running in editor/PIE is fine where it creates a new client that auto-connects to the main game (brownie points if someone can point out which source file allows this magic), but after packaging it, I can only run one instance. I can open a second instance for a split second before the first shuts down.

I can get around this issue by running the program as another user (Windows 10) and then running it again as myself so I have both windows open at the same time on my screen, but it feels janky and kind of hacky, so if someone has a better solution, please let us know.

8

I’m having the same issue. Trying to run multiple packaged instances, on a computer with SteamVR. (However, I need to be using SteamVR in the project).

Does it definitely have something to do with SteamVR?

9

@Dartanlla ,are u using htc vive?

10

I can confirm that this was caused by SteamVR, at least on my computer.
Here’s what I had to do to allow multiple clients to run on the same PC:

  1. Disable the SteamVR plugin in UE4 Editor
  2. REPACKAGE the game client with the SteamVR plugin disabled
  3. Run multiple game client .exe

The key here is that any .exe’s that were packaged while the plugin was still enabled will force SteamVR to launch, and force only one client to run at a time.