Fortnite Creative/ UEFN
Using Verse in UEFN: A Quick Beginner’s Guide
Learn the basics of using Verse to create custom gameplay mechanics in your Fortnite projects.
Verse is the powerful scripting language integrated into Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), enabling developers to create custom gameplay mechanics and interactive experiences. Whether you’re new to programming or just new to Verse, this guide will help you get started with the basics. By the end, you’ll have the foundational knowledge needed to begin scripting your own Fortnite experiences.
1. What is Verse?
Verse is a high-level, object-oriented programming language designed specifically for UEFN. It allows you to create complex behaviors and interactions in your Fortnite projects by writing custom scripts. Verse is particularly powerful because it integrates seamlessly with the UEFN environment, allowing you to manipulate game elements directly within your code.
Verse is designed to be easy to learn for beginners, while still offering advanced features for experienced programmers. Its syntax is clear and concise, making it a great starting point for those new to coding.
Resources:
- Verse Documentation – Official Epic Games documentation for Verse.
- Verse API Reference – Comprehensive guide to all available Verse functions and classes.
2. Setting Up Your First Verse Script
To start coding in Verse, you first need to create a Verse script within your UEFN project. Here’s how to get started:
- Create a New Verse Script: In UEFN, navigate to the Verse Explorer,click the name of your project, right-click, and select “Add new Verse File to Project”. Choose “Verse Device” and name your script something relevant to its function, like “my_first_script” Now click Create. This will create a Verse file with a simple print code template already in place.
- Open the Verse Editor: Find the link named “Verse” which is located between Tools and Build and click on it. In the drop down menu, click “Build Verse Code” Now click on the Verse button with the green check mark located between the Fab and Launch Session buttons. This will open up your Verse Editor. On the left hand side, look for your device called: “my_first_script” and click on it.
Understand the Structure: A basic Verse script consists of classes, functions, and variables. Here’s a simple example to get you started:
my_first_script := class(creative_device):
# anything with an # represents a comment and is ignored when the
# code runs.
# The function below runs when the game starts
OnBegin<override>()<suspends>: void =
Print("Hello, World!")
Print("2 + 2 = {2 + 2}")
In this example, we define a class: my_first_script that inherits from creative_device. The OnBegin function runs when the game starts and prints a message to the print log. You may wonder why it is important to print messages to the log.
Why Printing Messages to the Log is Important
Printing messages to the log is a fundamental practice in programming, especially when developing in environments like Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) using Verse. Here’s why it’s so valuable:
Debugging and Troubleshooting: When you’re writing code, it’s common to encounter issues or unexpected behaviors. By printing messages to the log, you can track the execution flow of your program. For instance, if your script isn’t behaving as expected, inserting print statements at critical points in your code allows you to see if certain functions are being called or if variables hold the values you expect. This makes it much easier to identify where things might be going wrong.
Monitoring Game Events: In a complex game environment, many events happen simultaneously. Printing messages to the log helps you monitor these events in real-time. For example, you can log when a player interacts with an object, when an enemy is spawned, or when a level is loaded. This real-time feedback is crucial for understanding how your game mechanics are working under different scenarios.
Performance Tracking: Besides debugging, print statements can be used to monitor the performance of your game. For instance, you can log the time taken by certain functions to execute or how often a specific event occurs. This information is valuable for optimizing your game’s performance, ensuring that it runs smoothly even with complex scripts and multiple players.
Communication Between Team Members: When working in a team, logging messages can serve as a form of communication. For example, if a particular function or script isn’t behaving correctly, you can log detailed messages that describe what the code is supposed to do versus what it’s actually doing. This information can then be shared with other team members to help diagnose and fix issues more efficiently.
Ensuring Code Logic: As your scripts become more complex, it’s easy to lose track of the logic flow. By printing messages at key points, you can confirm that your code logic is working as intended. For example, if you have multiple conditions or loops, logging each step ensures that your code is following the correct path and making the right decisions.
3. Understanding Verse Syntax and Concepts
Before diving deeper into coding, it’s essential to understand some basic Verse concepts:
- Classes and Objects: Verse uses classes to define objects. A class is like a blueprint for creating objects. In the example above, my_device is a class.
- Functions: Functions are blocks of code that perform a specific task. The OnBegin function in our example runs when the game starts.
- Variables: Variables are used to store data. For example, you could define a variable to store a player’s score.
- Events: Verse allows you to respond to events, such as a player interacting with an object. This is done through event binding, which we’ll cover shortly.
Tip: Consistency in naming conventions and proper indentation are critical in Verse to ensure your code is readable and maintainable. Follow a standard coding style to avoid errors and improve collaboration.
4. Debugging and Testing Your Verse Code
Testing your Verse scripts is crucial to ensure they work as expected. UEFN provides several tools to help you debug and refine your code:
- Print Statements: Use Print() statements to output messages to the console, which is helpful for tracking the flow of your program and identifying issues.
- Breakpoints: You can set breakpoints in your Verse code to pause execution at specific points, allowing you to inspect variables and the state of your game.
- Live Testing: Run your game in UEFN to see your scripts in action. Make sure to test various scenarios to ensure your script handles all possible player interactions.
Tip: Regularly save and back up your scripts to avoid losing your work. Use UEFN’s built-in version control features to manage changes and collaborate with others.
6. Expanding Your Knowledge
As you become more comfortable with Verse, you can start exploring more advanced topics, such as:
- Concurrency: Learn how to manage multiple tasks simultaneously using Verse’s concurrency features.
- Custom Events: Create your own events and bind them to specific actions in your game.
- Complex Gameplay Logic: Dive deeper into creating complex gameplay mechanics, such as inventory systems or AI behavior.
Additional Resources
To continue learning and improving your Verse scripting skills, explore the following resources:
- Verse API Reference – Dive deeper into the available functions and classes in Verse.
- Epic Developer Community(EDC) – Join the community to discuss ideas, ask questions, and share your projects.
- UEFN Documentation – Access comprehensive guides and tutorials for Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
- The Creative Blok Discord – Join new verse learners in our discord and join up for weekly community tutorials!
Verse is a versatile and powerful scripting language that opens up endless possibilities for your Fortnite projects. By learning the basics, you’ll be well on your way to creating engaging and interactive gameplay experiences. Keep experimenting, learning, and expanding your knowledge, and you’ll soon unlock the full potential of Verse in UEFN.
Happy Developing!
All
Engagement Payout Estimates Now Available in Fortnite Creator Portal
Fortnite creators now have access to Engagement Payout Estimates, offering greater transparency into their potential earnings.
Fortnite creators now have access to Engagement Payout Estimates, offering greater transparency into their potential earnings. Released on January 29, 2025, these estimates can be found in the Monetization tab of the Creator Portal, helping creators track their expected payouts based on available data.
How It Works
The Monetization tab now displays:
- Monthly payouts at the top for quick reference.
- Daily payout estimates through an interactive chart, defaulting to the last 30 days.
- Historical payout data since the island’s start in the Island Creator Program.
Important Considerations
While these estimates provide an approximation of earnings, they are not guarantees. Factors influencing the final payout include:
- Creator eligibility status
- Potential monetization bans
- Final data processing, which typically happens 30 days after the end of the applicable month.
Creators must reach a $100 minimum payout threshold within a 12-month period to receive a payout.
Enhanced Tracking and Insights
In addition to estimates, creators can now view daily breakdowns of past payouts, making it easier to track changes over time. Fortnite has also shared insights into the creator ecosystem, revealing that $352 million was paid to creators in 2024.
Access Your Payout Estimates
To explore this feature, visit your Project Monetization tab, in the Creator Portal today.
For further details, check out the official Fortnite announcement.
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Fortnite Updates Creator Rules: See What It Means for You
Epic Games just rolled out another update to its Fortnite Creator Rules, and this one is causing quite the stir in the community. Update 1.13.3, part of the broader “Keep It Authentic” directive, is designed to crack down on misleading content in Fortnite Creative. But what does it really mean for creators?
Epic Games just rolled out another update to its Fortnite Creator Rules, and this one is causing quite the stir in the community. Update 1.13.3, part of the broader “Keep It Authentic” directive, is designed to crack down on misleading content in Fortnite Creative. But what does it really mean for creators, and how are people reacting? Let’s dive in.
What’s in the Update?
The new rules are all about keeping the experience genuine and transparent for players. Epic Games reported that coins and terms like “AFK” and “XP” are being used in island thumbnails, titles, and other metadata to mislead players into believing that they can earn or unlock an impossibly high amount of XP. Spoilers, they don’t.
Our rules (1.13) prohibit using misleading content like this in your metadata. Creators have until February 4 to remove any misleading content, including references to AFK, XP, Coin farm, Coin slide, or images of Fortnite coins (or similar coins). Epic has stated that they will be removing this content from the ecosystem, and creators will receive escalating penalties – including impacts to monetization, island removal, and account suspension.
Here are the main takeaways from section 1.13: Keep it Authentic:
1.13 Keep It Authentic
Your promotional assets – including thumbnails, descriptions, and titles – must accurately represent the content in your Fortnite island. No more clickbait!
1.13.1 No Impersonations
Avoid using Fortnite’s own visuals or features in misleading ways. For instance, don’t create thumbnails that imply your map offers Fortnite XP if it doesn’t.
1.13.2 No Currency Mentions
References to V-Bucks, the Battle Pass, real-world money, or any rewards are strictly off-limits.
1.13.3 Crackdown on Misleading XP and Items
Terms like “AFK,” “XP,” “Coin farm,” or “Coin slide” are now banned from your map’s name, description, or promotional assets. Plus, you can’t use imagery like Fortnite coins in thumbnails or backgrounds to lure players under false pretenses.
1.13.4 No False Promises
Don’t mislead players about what kind of experience they’ll have in your map. Clarity and honesty are key.
How the Community is Reacting
The changes have been met with mixed reactions on Reddit’s r/FortniteCreative. Here are some highlights from the ongoing conversation:
“I’m actually happy about this. There’s way too many maps that promise easy XP or rewards and end up being clickbait garbage.” – u/CreativeWanderer
“This is gonna hurt small creators who use trending keywords like ‘XP’ just to get noticed. Epic should’ve added some kind of support for us before dropping this.” – u/StruggleBusMaps
“About time they cleaned up the ‘coin farm’ nonsense. Those maps were ruining the experience for everyone who actually wanted to play legit games.” – u/RealFortniteFan
The consensus? Many support the idea of cleaning up the platform, but some creators are concerned about how it might stifle their ability to market maps effectively, especially smaller creators trying to break into the scene.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
For players, this update is a win. They’re less likely to waste time on maps that don’t deliver what’s promised. For creators, though, it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it raises the bar for quality and transparency, but on the other, it restricts certain marketing strategies that helped maps gain visibility.
Smaller creators may need to rethink their promotional strategies entirely. Without buzzwords like “XP farm” or eye-catching thumbnails filled with fake rewards, standing out in the crowded Creative marketplace could become much harder. On the flip side, this could also lead to higher-quality maps being discovered more often as misleading ones are weeded out.
Long-term, these rules could encourage a healthier ecosystem within Fortnite Creative. If the focus shifts to gameplay quality rather than gimmicks, the community’s trust in Creative maps might grow. However, Epic’s enforcement of these rules will be critical. Consistency and fairness will make or break the success of this update.
Stay Updated and Stay Connected
Creators, make sure you’re fully up-to-date on all the rules to avoid any unpleasant surprises. You can check out the full Fortnite Creator Rules here.
Got thoughts on this update? Join our Discord community to discuss this and other Fortnite Creative topics with fellow creators and players. Click here to join!
Let’s keep the conversation going!
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Streamlining Seasonal Projects: A Quick Guide to Project Production Workflow in Fortnite Creative and UEFN
This guide will walk you through strategies to optimize your workflow, avoid common scheduling delays, and offer a practical timeline for creating seasonal maps like Christmas, Halloween, and Summer-themed experiences in UEFN and Fortnite Creative.
Creating and managing a project production workflow is crucial for the timely release of Fortnite Creative maps, especially for seasonal events and Epic Picks features. This guide will walk you through strategies to optimize your workflow, avoid common scheduling delays, and offer a practical timeline for creating seasonal maps like Christmas, Halloween, and Summer-themed experiences in UEFN and Fortnite Creative.
When developing Fortnite Creative projects, especially those intended for seasonal events like Christmas, Halloween, or Summer, managing your production workflow is crucial to ensure timely releases and avoid submission delays. If you’re aiming for high-visibility features like Epic Picks or other showcases, timely submission is even more important, as Epic Games often reduces their working hours during major holidays. This article provides a quick roadmap to help streamline your workflow, avoid common pitfalls, and deliver polished, timely seasonal maps.
Key Tips for Effective Workflow Management for UEFN and Fortnite Creative
- Start Early and Plan Ahead:
The key to a successful seasonal project is starting early. It’s not just about finishing the map; it’s about creating enough time for testing, iteration, and refinement. Planning months in advance allows you to accommodate unexpected delays, such as asset creation or coding issues, while also ensuring that there’s ample time for feedback and testing. A well-structured timeline also allows you to align your efforts with Epic Games’ submission deadlines for maximum visibility. - Be Mindful of Epic’s Holiday Schedule:
Epic Games’ office hours are reduced during major holidays, and their review and approval process for seasonal maps can slow down significantly. For this reason, you should always aim to submit your maps well before holiday periods, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s. By submitting early, you avoid the risks associated with delayed reviews and missed opportunities for promotion, particularly with events like Epic Picks. Epic will usually post their vacation times in their Official Discord Announcement Channels - Implement Revision Control:
For larger teams working on seasonal projects, managing revisions and collaborating on changes can become chaotic without proper version control. Unreal Engine’s Revision Control system allows you to keep track of changes made by various team members and revert to previous versions when necessary. This tool can also help you avoid the “lost work” scenario and ensure all team members are on the same page. - Leverage Templates and Pre-Built Assets:
UEFN (Unreal Engine for Fortnite) offers several templates and assets that you can use as a foundation for your seasonal projects. For instance, the Santa’s Toy Factory template for Christmas maps can save you time by providing pre-built structures and features that you can customize. The use of templates helps to streamline development, reduce workload, and allow you to focus on unique features that will set your map apart. - Optimize for Player Engagement:
Seasonal maps should prioritize player engagement and fun. Incorporate unique mechanics, seasonal aesthetics, and interactive elements that resonate with the community. For example, you could create special holiday-themed rewards, minigames, or limited-time events. Pre-game lobbies are an excellent place to test these features, as they provide immediate player feedback, which is crucial for refining gameplay.
Recommended Seasonal Project Timeline for UEFN and Fortnite Creative
Managing UEFN and Fortnite Creative seasonal projects requires precision and timing. The following timeline provides a structured approach to ensure you’re always ahead of schedule. Keep in mind that these dates may vary slightly depending on the scope of your project and any specific community events you want to tie into.
| Season | Ideal Start Date | Testing Phase | Submission Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas | August-September | October-November | Early December |
| Halloween | May-June | July-August | Early September |
| Summer Themes | February-March | April-May | Early June |
| Spring Events | December-January | February | Early March |
| New Year | October-November | December | Mid-December |
- Christmas (August-December): Start planning and developing in August or September to allow ample time for testing by October or November. Submit by early December for Epic Picks consideration.
- Halloween (May-September): Begin work in May or June, with testing and refining completed by July or August. Submissions should be in early September to ensure timely promotion.
- Summer Themes (February-June): Plan and create early, starting in February or March, with testing completed by April or May. Submit by early June for maximum visibility before the summer season begins.
- Spring Events (December-March): Start in December or January, with testing completed by February. Submit by early March to catch spring-themed gameplay interest.
- New Year (October-December): New Year-themed maps can begin in October and should be fully tested by December. A mid-December submission ensures it’s ready for the New Year celebrations.
Free Project Planning Spreadsheet for UEFN and Fortnite Creative
We’ve created a Google spreadsheet to help you easily organize your projects for the New Year!
You can access it for free using the link here: TCB PROJECT PLANNING SPREADSHEET
How to Edit and Save this Spreadsheet:
To Edit and Save this Spreadsheet to your Google Drive:
> Go to File
> Make a Copy
This will save it to your google drive and allow you to make edits.
Best Practices for Seasonal Map Design in UEFN and Fortnite Creative
To ensure your map aligns with the seasonal theme while offering a high-quality experience for players, consider the following design best practices:
- Embrace the Theme Fully:
Seasonal maps should immerse players in the holiday spirit. From festive visual elements like Christmas trees, pumpkins, or fireworks, to sound effects and themed gameplay mechanics, your map should reflect the essence of the season. Pay attention to small details like lighting, props, and music to create an atmosphere that draws players in. - Balance Customization and Accessibility:
While it’s important to customize your map with seasonal assets, don’t forget to maintain accessibility for all players. Ensure that gameplay mechanics, such as movement or combat, are intuitive and easy to understand, especially for new players. Consider adding seasonal difficulty adjustments to cater to a wide range of skill levels. - Playtest Frequently:
The playtesting phase is crucial for identifying issues and refining gameplay mechanics. Engage your community early on, and host beta tests or pre-launch events to gather player feedback. Use these insights to adjust gameplay, fix bugs, and fine-tune map features. Remember, iterative feedback ensures your map is polished and enjoyable. - Optimize Performance:
Seasonal maps often feature unique assets and effects that can impact performance. Test your map on various hardware platforms to ensure smooth performance, especially if you’re targeting a broader audience. Minimize unnecessary assets, optimize your textures, and ensure that your map’s size doesn’t cause loading delays or performance drops.
Set Dedication to Create Well-Structured Production Timelines In UEFN and Fortnite Creative
Effective project planning, timely production, and a focus on community engagement are essential for success in Fortnite Creative. By adhering to a well-structured timeline, utilizing Unreal Engine tools, and embracing seasonal themes, you can streamline your workflow and ensure that your projects are submitted on time for seasonal events. With the right preparation, your map can stand out during key periods like Christmas, Halloween, and Summer, potentially earning features like Epic Picks.
Remember, the earlier you begin, the more room you have for creativity, testing, and adjustments.
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