As an active developer working with UEFN, I want to highlight significant challenges in UMG HUD development that are impeding productivity and creativity:
- Time-Intensive Workflow:
Updating and testing UMG HUD elements requires the entire game to be pushed locally to test changes. This process takes 4–7 minutes per iteration, making UI development extremely slow and impractical compared to other areas of functionality. - Lack of Proper Documentation:
UMG tools in UEFN are under-documented. Developers are left relying on tooltips and basic descriptions, which require extensive trial and error to achieve desired designs and functionality. A centralized, detailed resource on UMG features and capabilities would save significant time and frustration. - Issues with Nesting Widgets:
Nesting UMG widgets in UEFN does not appear to work as expected, particularly when bindings are involved. For example, a timer widget cannot be used as a child in a parent UI element without breaking functionality. This might stem from limitations or bugs, but without the ability to test efficiently, I cannot fully validate these issues. - Impact on Development:
UMG development in UEFN feels disproportionately cumbersome compared to other systems due to the above issues. Iterating on UI elements—a critical part of player experience—is a far slower process than building mechanics or level design.
Call to Action:
Epic, please consider:
- Improving UMG documentation with clear, step-by-step examples.
- Providing a faster way to test UI changes locally without pushing the entire game.
- Investigating and addressing issues with nested widgets and bindings.
UI development is fundamental to game creation, and addressing these challenges would empower developers to craft more polished and engaging UEFN experiences. Thank you!
