Variant Manager not working in PIE on 5.3.1 when using Level Instances

Hi Folks.

The Variant Manager works while using the editor and works in standalone. However, when we go to PIE it doesn’t work.

Our setup has a level instance which contains various lighting objects and the VariantSet. The level instance is then added to the main level. This pattern was used successfully on a previous UE4 project but the current project is currently on 5.3.1.

(Note that If we simplify the setup to remove the level instance then everything works fine.)

Digging a little deeper, it appears that when we enter PIE the property bindings in the Variants can’t resolve. They are using FSoftObjectPath and (despite the fact it’s adding the UEDPIE_ stuff to the soft path) it can’t resolve as the instantiated level instance has a different soft path.

Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone know of a good workaround?

Does anyone know if the behaviour around the level instances/soft path has changed in UE5?

Thanks!

1 Like

Hello,

I had the same problem, the only solution I found was to load the level not in “Blueprint” but in “Always Loaded” and then to manually position my level in the persistent world.

To do this: Windows / Levels / right-click on the sub-level / Change streaming Method / Always Loaded

I hope this answer helps people!