The current github UT release branch (from build/change list 2984440) will compile and work using the Development Editor configuration.
But will NOT compile using Shipping config. I had this same issue with VS2013 so I did a new clean install of Windows 10 x64, VS2015 update 2 Community edition (and yes I did add C++ support), a fresh new clone of the github UT code. And it still gives errors saying VS2015 is not installed, even though it is! And after making some changes to the UnrealBuildTool I have managed to have it actually build the UT shipping configuration, but my plugin (that used to work prior to the UE4.12 with VS2013) when used with the launcher version of UT, gives the error upon startup:
Any ideas on how to fix this?
Hi Snake.Pliskin,
I’m a bit confused, the error you are seeing, is it only occurring on the launcher version of UT or is it happening with the source version as well?
If it is just the launcher version, please go to the launcher>UT>Create>Dropdown menu>Verify. This will check your build for any damaged/missing files and repair/replace them as necessary.
I built a C++ UT game mode plug in. I can compile the plugin DLL using “Development Editor” configuration in VS2015. I then copy the required plugin files to my launcher version of UT Editor
H:\Dev\UnrealTournament\UnrealTournament\Plugins\UTDomGameMode\* copied to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\UnrealTournamentEditor\UnrealTournament\Plugins\UTDomGameMode.
The Editor loads up just fine, I can make a map using my game mode and play it in PIE. I can even cook it/share that map. All goes well until I go to play in the game itself.
Following the same steps I have done in the past that has worked…
I change the build configuration to “shipping” or “test”. I can build using the configuration and I then copy the required plugin files to my launcher version of UT game
H:\Dev\UnrealTournament\UnrealTournament\Plugins\UTDomGameMode\* copied to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\UnrealTournament\UnrealTournament\Plugins\UTDomGameMode.
I then start to load the game and it gives me that error about Entry Point Not Found and exits.
LogModuleManager:Warning: ModuleManager: Unable to load module 'C:/Program Files/Epic Games/UnrealTournament/UnrealTournament/Plugins/UTDomGameMode/Binaries/Win64/UE4-UTDomGameMode-Win64-Shipping.dll' because the file couldn't be loaded by the OS.
I can delete the plugin and the game loads without any problems. I did run the verify and everything is ok with the files. I know it is something to do with the way the way the plugin is being compiled. I had no issues using VS2013 until the move to UE4.12 and the VS2015 requirement.
We have entered a bug report, UT-4368, to be assessed by the development staff.
It turns out UE4.12 still has the need to have VS2013 installed along with VS2015. Open the UE project in VS2015 and do a ReBuild on the project. Then it will build using any configuration, correctly.
On a side note to pass on to the bug report UT-4368:
The UnrealBuildTool had trouble at first discovering if a user has Visual installed or not and trying to locate the VisualStudio common tools path.
If the user has VS2015 installed then they would have the system environment variable set (for all users) and it points directly to the VisualStudio common tools path
Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("%VS140COMNTOOLS%")
and for the VS2013 common tools path
Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("%VS120COMNTOOLS%")
i.e.
%VS140COMNTOOLS% = C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual 14.0\Common7\Tools\
Also Microsoft has a batch file that will locate just about all the SDK’s paths. Take a look at the file
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual 14.0\Common7\Tools\VsDevCmd.bat
or you can also use to get the same file 
%VS140COMNTOOLS%VsDevCmd.bat