Disabling SteamVR plugin makes a Blueprint-only project require Visual Studio to package

Development Programming & Scripting
1

Repro Steps

  1. Create a new project with 4.17 Preview 1.
  2. Package the game for Windows 64-bit.
  3. Open the Plugins menu and disable SteamVR. Restart the editor as requested.
  4. Try packaging the game for Windows 64-bit again.

Expected

Game is packaged successfully.

Actual

You are prompted to install Visual Studio.

Other Info

  • Unreal Engine: 4.17.0-3528061+++UE4+Release-4.17
  • Windows 10: Build 15063
2

Hello ,

I’m currently looking into this although, at first sight at least, it seems that it may already be fixed in our latest internal build. I’ll be testing it more tomorrow and I’ll let you know when I have more information.

3

After further testing, I’ve found that this is fixed in our latest internal build. As we are very close to the 4.17 release, a fix for this likely will not make it into 4.17.0. If it doesn’t, it should be included in one of the hotfixes. I’ve entered a report for it here: UE-47564. You can use this link to track the bug’s progress and the fix version for when it is fixed.

Have a nice day!

4

Thanks for looking into this, Matthew! I guess I’ll look forward to the hotfixes. :slight_smile:

5

There’s a new developer note on the issue that confuses me. It reads:

This is working as intended. SteamVR is enabled by default. To disable a plugin that’s enabled by default you need to re-link the Engine executable, which requires an IDE.

If that’s true, why does it only occur in 4.17.x builds?

6

Hello ,

The message is correct. If you test this in 4.16 with an IDE installed (new project > Disable Steam VR > Restart > Package) then you will notice that there is a linking process that occurs as mentioned. If no error is being given when you do not have an IDE installed, then Steam VR is likely never actually being excluded from the build, as it is using the original executable. If you still do not have an IDE, can you try this in 4.16 and see if Steam VR is mentioned in the logs? “Shutting down and abandoning module SteamVR (118)” should be mentioned near the bottom of the log for the packaged game if it is enabled. It should also be mentioned in “Manifest_UFSFiles_Win64.txt”.