How does Fortnite/ARK handle streaming user-created Levels(maps) to the game?

Development World Creation
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Hi!

A big conundrum I am experiencing with a project I am working on is figuring out how to load maps that were created after the game was shipped without updating the entire game.

For example, lets say we have a game that supports users creating levels and allowing them to be download through e.g the Steam Workshop.

On a macro level, how would you go about doing this? To my knowledge Unreal can’t load uncooked map files in a packaged and shipped executable?

The reason I have Fortnite and ARK: Survival Evolved in this title of this question is that they are both two examples (out of several games) that offers something like this. ARK offers users to download user created maps from the Steam Workshop, and Fortnite has their own built in community page where users can create, share and download other users maps right inside the game.

Thank you in advance for any insight on this topic.

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Hi Vermillion,

Good question,

Foundations of the metaverse sort of question.

I’m not even sure where to begin. (Chunking maybe?)

~

I think one thing we’ll see more of in the future is a sort of ‘games within games’ paradigm. For example, what’s preventing me from making a Chess mod inside of ARK? (The ability to take control of players camera? The ability to show mouse cursor and enable click events?) Another thought: What does a system look like that would allow me to sell my Chess mod in ARK?