Modern Game Development in Unreal Engine 5 with C++: Professional Techniques for Real-Time Gameplay Systems

By ANTHONY LEBEDEV

Modern Game Development in Unreal Engine 5 with C++ is a systems-focused guide to professional Unreal Engine development. Written for developers who want to move beyond prototypes and tutorial code, this book teaches how real-time gameplay systems are architected, implemented, optimized, and shipped in modern UE5 projects.

Rather than teaching Unreal feature-by-feature in isolation, the book approaches the engine as a connected ecosystem - showing how gameplay architecture, networking, animation, AI, input, and optimization work together inside production codebases.

This is not a beginner introduction to programming. It is a practical engineering guide for developers who want a deeper command of Unreal Engine 5 and modern C++ game development.

Inside this book, you'll learn how to:

Understand UE5's architecture, module system, reflection system, and UObject modelBuild scalable gameplay frameworks using GameMode, GameState, PlayerController, Pawn, and SubsystemsDesign maintainable gameplay systems with modern C++ and Unreal Engine patternsImplement advanced character movement and custom movement modesBuild production-ready systems using the Gameplay Ability System (GAS)Create AI architecture with Behavior Trees, Blackboards, EQS, perception systems, and navigationDevelop animation pipelines using state machines, montages, Control Rig, layered animation, and motion warpingBuild multiplayer gameplay systems with replication, RPCs, prediction, lag compensation, and server authorityProfile and optimize CPU, GPU, memory, ticking, rendering, and network performanceStructure Unreal projects for production, testing, tooling, packaging, deployment, and long-term maintainability

Along the way, you'll build/create:

A scalable UE5 gameplay architecture designed for real production workflowsMultiplayer-ready gameplay systems with replication and prediction supportGAS-driven ability, attribute, and combat systemsAI systems that scale from individual enemies to coordinated groups and crowdsAnimation systems integrated cleanly with gameplay and networkingReplicated inventory, movement, and combat frameworksProfessional optimization and profiling workflows using Unreal InsightsProduction-oriented tooling and packaging pipelines for shipping Unreal Engine games

This book is written for experienced programmers entering Unreal Engine, Blueprint developers transitioning to C++, and Unreal C++ developers who want a more structured understanding of large-scale gameplay architecture.

What sets this book apart is its focus on systems thinking, production realities, and long-term scalability. Instead of relying on simplified demo projects or disconnected examples, it teaches the architectural patterns used in professional Unreal Engine development which are the patterns required to build performant, maintainable, multiplayer-ready games in Unreal Engine 5.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0H2P78G8N
• ISBN13: 9798198135864
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 313 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.7" x 7.5"