Prerequisites

System Requirements

Minimum:

• Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or later) or Windows 11
• 32 GB RAM (16 GB absolute minimum, but you'll struggle)
• 100 GB free disk space (UE5 + Visual Studio + project)
• DirectX 11/12 compatible graphics card
• Quad-core CPU (Intel i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or equivalent)

Recommended:

• 64 GB RAM for comfortable development
• NVMe SSD for faster compilation and loading
• RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT or better for editor performance
• 8-core CPU (Intel i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or better)

Required Software

Essential:

• Unreal Engine 5.6+ (Epic Games Launcher)
• Visual Studio 2022 (v17.9+) with C++ workload
• Git with Git LFS
• Node.js 18+ (for this documentation site)

Highly Recommended:

• Visual Studio Code for documentation and quick C++ edits
• GitHub Desktop or command-line Git experience

C++ Skill Level Expectations

Required Knowledge:

• Basic C++ syntax (classes, inheritance, pointers)
• Object-oriented programming concepts
• Basic understanding of memory management
• Comfortable with compilers and IDEs

Helpful but Not Required:

• Game development experience
• Previous Unreal Engine experience (UE4 knowledge transfers well)
• Advanced C++ features (templates, STL)

Learning Resources if Needed:

• Learn C++ - Comprehensive C++ tutorial
• Unreal Engine C++ Documentation

Time Commitment Estimates

Per Milestone (assuming 2-3 hours per session):

• Milestone 1 (Character + Input): 6-8 hours over 2-3 sessions
• Milestone 2 (Interaction System): 4-6 hours over 2 sessions
• Milestone 3 (AI + Combat): 8-10 hours over 3-4 sessions
• Milestone 4 (NPCs + Events): 4-6 hours over 2 sessions
• Milestone 5 (Testing + Polish): 6-8 hours over 2-3 sessions

Total Project Time: 28-38 hours over 4-6 weeks (assuming 1-2 sessions per week)

UE5 vs UE4 Migration Notes

If Coming from UE4:

• Enhanced Input replaces old Input system (completely different API)
• Behavior Trees are largely the same
• C++ compilation is faster in UE5
• Some Blueprint nodes have been renamed or moved
• Nanite and Lumen are new rendering features (not covered in this guide)

New to Unreal Engine:

• Don't worry about UE4 - start fresh with UE5 patterns
• Focus on the component-based architecture from day one
• Embrace data-driven design via Data Assets

Development Environment Setup Checklist

Before starting Milestone 1, verify:

• [ ] UE5.6+ installed and can create new C++ project
• [ ] Visual Studio 2022 with C++ workload can compile simple UE project
• [ ] Git and Git LFS installed (git lfs version works)
• [ ] GitHub account created (for companion repo)
• [ ] VS Code installed with C++ extension (optional but recommended)
• [ ] At least 20 GB free space for initial project

Common Setup Issues

"Cannot find UnrealBuildTool"

• Ensure Visual Studio C++ workload is fully installed
• Restart Epic Games Launcher after VS installation

Git LFS Errors

• Run git lfs install in command prompt as administrator
• Verify with git lfs env

Slow Compilation

• Exclude UE project folders from Windows Defender real-time scanning
• Use SSD for UE installation and projects
• Close unnecessary applications during compilation

Next Steps

Once your environment is ready:

1. Read Architecture for the big picture
2. Follow UE Setup for plugin configuration
3. Create your Companion Repo
4. Begin Milestone 1