So is static lightmaps just not a viable thing anymore in UE5?

[Shmoopy1701]

@TomcaT

• If I use cubegrid, even with ‘generate lightmap UVs’ and changing the result - unless the LIGHT actor itself is static, it doesn’t bake, just acts as though there is no shadow casting.
• If I use BSP, the same is true. Unless the light is static, it doesn’t bake.

That is working as intended. Only “static lights” will bake onto “static geometry”. Note also that:

• any material on a static mesh that needs baked lighting must have the “used with static lighting” flag checked
• every mesh needs a sufficient Lightmap Resolution or the lighting on it will be super chunky

Static Light Mobility In Unreal Engine | Unreal Engine 5.4 Documentation | Epic Developer Community (epicgames.com)

For low end and legacy projects, you will have like 95% static lights and a few strategically placed stationary or dynamic lights for character real-time shadows.

I am involved with multiple UE5 projects that use good old fashioned static lighting with Lumen turned off. It is perfectly viable. Any questions let me know.