Mastering AI Game Development with Unreal

Elevate your Unreal Engine skills with this Essential Guide to AI-Driven Game Development!

Key Features
● Comprehensive coverage of AI techniques and their Unreal Engine implementation
● Practical hands-on exercises and real-world examples for seamless AI integration
● Covers all important AI workflows in Unreal Engine

Book Description
In the rapidly evolving world of game development, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your Unreal Engine projects is no longer optional—it’s essential. Mastering AI for Unreal Engine is your definitive guide to unlocking the transformative power of AI, propelling your games beyond the ordinary and into the realm of cutting-edge, immersive experiences.

Through a step-by-step approach, you will explore a wide range of AI techniques, including pathfinding, behavior trees, perception systems, and the powerful Environment Query System (EQS). Each chapter delves into the theoretical underpinnings of these AI components, followed by hands-on exercises and real-world examples that demonstrate their integration within Unreal Engine. We will learn to create intelligent, dynamic, and engaging game experiences by leveraging the power of AI.

What sets this book apart is its deep dive into emerging AI frameworks like the Mass Framework, giving you a strategic edge in adopting the latest trends and technologies that are shaping the future of gaming. You’ll learn how to optimize your AI systems, enhance performance, and master debugging techniques critical for smooth, efficient development processes.

Mastering AI for Unreal Engine doesn’t just teach you AI—it empowers you to innovate, create intelligent game worlds, and stand out in the fiercely competitive game development landscape.

What you will learn
● Set up and navigate Unreal Engine to establish a strong foundation for AI development.
● Learn Blueprints, create class Blueprints, and use Blueprint communication for interactive AI components.
● Build AI characters, and master navigation meshes and pathfinding for dynamic movement.
● Create complex AI behaviors using Behavior Trees and Blackboard components.
● Implement AI Perception to add sight and hearing, making your AI characters more aware and reactive.
● Use State Trees to manage AI states with evaluators, tasks, and transitions.
● Leverage the Environmental Query System (EQS) to enable AI to make context-aware decisions.
● Debug and optimize AI with Unreal’s visual logging and debugging tools.
● Explore advanced AI design techniques like Data Oriented Design, Mass AI, and ZoneGraph.

Who is this book for?
This book is tailored for game developers, aspiring designers, and anyone interested in integrating AI into Unreal Engine projects. Suitable for beginners to experienced professionals, it’s ideal for students, hobbyists, and industry pros looking to enhance their AI skills. Whether you're creating Non-Player Characters (NPCs), designing complex decision-making systems, or advancing game AI, this book provides the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.

1. Introduction to Unreal Engine
2. Unreal Blueprints
3. Understanding AI in Games
4. Navigation and Pathfinding
5. Behavior Trees and Blackboards
6. AI Perception
7. StateTree
8. Environment Query System
9. SmartObjects
10. Debugging AI in Unreal Engine
11. Mass Framework and Future Trends in GameAI
Index

Hrishikesh Andurlekar is a seasoned professional with an impressive 21-year career spanning film, advertising, animation, and mixed reality.

A graduate in Mechanical Engineering, he began his career as a generalist, lighting artist, and CG supervisor at animation studios like Crest and Prana. Hrishikesh has lent his expertise to visual effects for major Bollywood and Hollywood productions during his time at Rhythm and Hues and Pixion.

Moving into leadership roles, he has led teams producing TV commercials, out-of-home advertising, and print visuals at Happy Finish and Pixion's Commercials Division. As Supervisor at Prime Focus Animation, he oversaw the technical direction and CG pipeline.

In 2016, Hrishikesh founded Tplusplus Interactive, which has earned recognition for its award-winning VR projects for Reliance Jio and has been instrumental in developing real-time broadcast graphics pipelines for various studios around the world. Tplusplus Interactive's portfolio includes interactive games, simulators, and engineering visualizations.

Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Hrishikesh has shared his knowledge as an Unreal Authorized Trainer, educating over 50 companies in the Asia-Pacific region. He has also served as a mentor at Mastered UK and conducts a course on new media technologies at the Welingkar Institute of Management. His book on Unreal Niagara Particles has been the first introduction to many new fx artists.

Fluent in multiple languages, Hrishikesh's linguistic abilities complement his role as a creative technologist. His pursuit of new technologies and their business applications underscores his dedication to innovation and continuous learning. Whenever he is not in front of the computer, he likes playing with his cats.

ABOUT TECHNICAL REVIEWER

Rhythm Gandhi is an experienced 3D Artist who takes joy in making characters and environments. He started at a very early age, practicing 3D art with a desire to be a part of the animation film industry. He takes pride in making characters concepts, sculpting and creating massive worlds in 3D. Rhythm has worked in various aspects of the industry, ranging from films, games, and advertisement wearing multiple hats of a designer, photographer, videographer, and technical art.

Currently, Rhythm works as a 3D Generalist at Green Rain Studio where he actively works as an Unreal Engine Instructor and as a 3D artist in Virtual Art Department. He runs an Unreal Engine Community for India on the side where he was termed as an ambassador. His passion for the craft is what makes him push himself forward everyday and stay up to date with latest industry standards.