Niagara bugged in Custom Props (UEFN 40.00)

Summary

Since the 40.00 update, Niagara seems to be bugged when used inside custom props or blueprints.

If you have a Niagara system in a blueprint, it often just doesn’t show up in the editor. The only way to make it appear is to do something like:

  • reload the Niagara asset, or

  • slightly change the transform

After that, it shows but only temporarily.

Same thing happens if the Niagara component is in a blueprint placed in the level. It won’t display unless you force it to refresh, and once you restart UEFN or reopen the level, the issue comes back again.

This is getting pretty confusing and annoying since you constantly have to “fix” it just to see the effect.

Important note: this is editor-only. Everything works fine in-game.

Please select what you are reporting on:

Unreal Editor for Fortnite

What Type of Bug are you experiencing?

Other

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Create a custom blueprint building prop

  2. Add a Niagara component and assign your Niagara asset

  3. Place the blueprint in the level (or view it in the viewport)
    → The Niagara system does not show

  4. Reload the Niagara asset
    → The Niagara system now shows (temporarily)

Expected Result

The Niagara system should show normally in the viewport and when placed in the level, without needing to reload the asset or adjust anything.

Observed Result

The Niagara system does not show in the editor when the blueprint is placed or viewed. It only appears after reloading the Niagara asset or slightly modifying something, and this fix is temporary once you reopen the level or restart UEFN, the issue happens again.

Platform(s)

PC

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Additional Notes

Hope this gets fixed soon since it’s really affecting artists and teams. It makes it hard to visually work on things when effects don’t show, and having to constantly refresh or reload just to see them isn’t ideal.

FORT-1078548 has been created and its status is ‘Unconfirmed’. This is now in a queue to be reproduced and confirmed.