How can I freely control a camera attached to an AI NPC's head without stopping its AI movement?

Development Programming & Scripting Blueprint
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1

I’m trying to create a feature where the player can stand on top of an enemy NPC’s head and freely look around from that position.

The NPC is controlled by an AI Controller and is constantly moving randomly. I do not want to stop or interrupt the AI movement.

Here’s what I’ve tried:

  • I attached a Camera (or Spring Arm + Camera) to the NPC’s head.

  • I used Possess, Set View Target with Blend, and Set Active to switch the player’s view to that camera.

The camera view switches successfully, but I can’t rotate or look around with the mouse. The camera is fixed to the NPC’s current facing direction.

What I want is:

  • The NPC should continue moving normally under AI control.

  • The player should be able to freely rotate the camera (yaw and pitch) while the camera stays attached to the NPC’s head.

  • I don’t want to possess the NPC because I want the AI to keep controlling it.

What is the recommended way to implement this in Unreal Engine 5? Should I use a separate Camera Actor, a custom PlayerController setup, or another approach?

2

Use a Spectator Pawn.

Give it a camera, IMC and input to control the camera.

Spawn the class and attach it to the NPC. Posses the specator pawn.