Enhanced Input Advanced Features (UE 5.6)

📚 Documentation & Resources

Official UE5.6 References:

• 📖 Player Mappable Input Configs - Custom key binding system
• 📖 Input Modifiers - Input processing and transformation
• 📖 Input Triggers - Advanced input detection patterns

Related Tutorials:

• 🎥 Input Debugging Techniques - Debug input flow and timing
• 🎥 Chorded Actions Setup - Multi-key combinations
• 🎥 Input Replay System - Record and playback inputs

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📋 Advanced Implementation

What/Why: Leverage UE5.6's full Enhanced Input capabilities including Player Mappable Configs, Input Debugging, Chorded Actions, and Input Replay for AAA-quality input handling.

Prereqs

• Enhanced Input plugin (default in UE 5.6)
• Understanding of basic Input Actions and Mapping Contexts

Steps

1. Player Mappable Input Configs

• Create UPlayerMappableInputConfig asset: PMI_DefaultBindings
• Define FEnhancedActionKeyMapping with bIsPlayerMappable = true
• Expose key remapping in UI: GetPlayerMappableKeys() and AddPlayerMappedKey()
• Save custom bindings via Enhanced Input Local Player Subsystem

2. Chorded Actions (Multi-Key Combinations)

• Create Input Action IA_SuperAbility with EInputActionValueType::Boolean
• Add Chorded Action trigger: requires IA_Modifier + IA_SuperAbility pressed simultaneously
• Configure timing: Hold Time Threshold for precise chord detection
• Use in complex ability combinations: Ctrl+Q, Shift+RClick, multi-button combos

3. Input Debugging System

• Enable Enhanced Input Developer Settings → Enable Debug Visualizations
• Runtime debug: showdebug enhancedinput console command
• Blueprint debugging: Print Enhanced Input Action Debug Info node
• Create debug UI: display active contexts, triggered actions, and input values

4. Input Replay and Recording

• Use Input Replay Subsystem for gameplay recording/playback
• Record inputs: StartRecording(SessionName) → StopRecording()
• Playback: StartPlayback(SessionName) with deterministic replay
• Testing automation: record player session, replay for consistent test scenarios

5. Context Stacking and Priority Management

• Stack contexts with explicit priorities: AddMappingContext(Context, Priority)
• Create context hierarchy: Gameplay(0) → Vehicle(5) → UI(10) → Console(100)
• Advanced transitions: SwapMappingContext() for instant context switching
• Conditional contexts: enable/disable based on Gameplay Tags

6. Advanced Triggers and Modifiers

• Pulse trigger: converts hold to repeated pulses (auto-fire weapons)
• Tap vs Hold distinction: short press vs long press different actions
• Combo trigger: sequence detection (fighting game combos, cheat codes)
• Custom modifiers: Dead Zone, Response Curve, Smooth Delta

7. Platform-Specific Input Handling

• Create platform variants: PMI_PC, PMI_Console, PMI_Mobile
• Auto-detection: Get Platform Name → apply appropriate config
• Input device switching: On Input Device Change event → swap contexts
• Handle controller/mouse+keyboard seamless transitions

8. Accessibility and Customization

• Input Sensitivity scaling per action type (look, move, aim)
• Hold/Toggle options: convert hold actions to toggles for accessibility
• Visual input indicators: show button prompts with current bindings
• Colorblind support: configurable input visualization colors

Data

• DA_InputProfiles: per-player input configurations and sensitivity settings
• DA_PlatformInputMaps: platform-specific default bindings and restrictions
• Input analytics data: track most-used bindings, chord success rates

Networking

• Input configs are client-only; don't replicate personal bindings
• Standardize server-side action names regardless of client bindings
• Input validation: server validates timing and possibility of client inputs

Performance

• Input processing budget: <0.5ms per frame for input evaluation
• Context switching cost: minimize during gameplay; batch changes
• Memory: ~50KB per player for custom binding storage

Testing

• Automated Input Testing: replay recorded sessions for regression testing
• Chord Validation: test multi-key combinations under various timings
• Platform Testing: validate bindings work on gamepad, mouse+keyboard, touch
• Accessibility Testing: verify hold-to-toggle conversions work correctly

Advanced Patterns

1. Dynamic Input Context Generation

• Runtime context creation based on equipped items/abilities
• Vehicle-specific contexts generated from vehicle data assets
• UI contexts that adapt to current screen/widget focus

2. Input Analytics and Heatmaps

• Track input usage patterns: most-used actions, timing distributions
• Performance analysis: input latency measurement and optimization
• Player behavior: identify unused bindings or problematic chord sequences

3. Cross-Platform Input Synchronization

• Seamless switching between controller and mouse+keyboard mid-game
• Input device capability detection: adaptive UI based on available inputs
• Cloud save integration: sync custom bindings across devices

Suggested prompts

• "UE 5.6 Enhanced Input. Create Player Mappable Input Config with custom key bindings UI and save/load functionality."
• "Implement Chorded Actions for complex ability combinations with precise timing and debugging visualization."
• "Show Input Replay system for automated testing: record player session, replay deterministically for validation."
• "Create platform-specific input handling with seamless device switching and accessibility options."

Prompts for this example

• "Design Blueprint nodes for runtime key remapping UI that saves custom bindings per player profile."
• "Show Chorded Action setup for Ctrl+Q super ability with timing validation and input debugging display."