Virtual Joysticks in Unreal Engine 4/ UE4

Hi folks!

In this post I will cover about a built-in element in Unreal Engine 4 – Virtual Joysticks, sticks or analogs. In particular how to configure them and how to interact with via Blueprints.

Beginning

We can create Virtual Joysticks via Content Browser:

Or use default from Engine’s content. To use it, need open View Options at the bottom right of Content Browser. And check Show Engine Content. After that two folders will appear in CB Engine Content and Engine Content C++.

In path EngineContent/MobileResourсes/HUD we’ll find DefaultVirtualJoysticks. Explanation for other settings below based on default joysticks.

Setting up

When you open it, you’ll see next:

Let’s start with “external” parametrs:

1. Active Opacity – joysticks’ opacity, when it active. From 0.0 to 1.0.
2. Inactive Opacity – opacity, when it inactive. From 0.0 to 1.0.
3. Time Until Deactive – time until it deactivates. Measures in seconds.
4. Time Until Reset – time until joystick returns to initial positions. Measures in seconds. When 0.0 it’s disabled.
5. Activation Delay – delay before using it. Looks like lagging effect, annoying even when 0.1. Measures in seconds. When 0.0 it’s disabled.
6. Prevent Recenter – binds it to initial position. Firts gif checked, second unchecked.

7. Startup Delay – delay before draw it on screen. In seconds.

Now let’s take a look to “internal” settings. By default there are 2 analogs, 0-element is for left, 1-element is for right stick. Btw, UE4 doesn’t have a limit.

They’re both has the same settings. So we’ll look only at 0-element.

1. Image 1 – inner circle.
2. Image 2 – an external.
3. Center – location coordinates. If <= 1.0, it’s relative to screen. It means I.e. 0.0 – for X is left edge of screen, for Y is top; 1.0 – for X is right edge, for Y is bottom. If > 1.0, it’s absolute to screen, i.e. 135 means shifted by 135 pixels.(Not recommended for mobiles).
4. Visual Size – size of external circle.
5. Thumb Size – size of inner.
6. Interaction Size – area of interaction.
7. Input Scale – max value, when it shifts.
8. Main Input Key – “action”, which is responsible for horizontal shifting.
9. Alt Input Key – “action”, which is responsible for vertical shifting.

Turn on/off

To turn on sticks, we need to identify them in Project Settings.

Project Settings –> Input –> Mobile –> Default Touch Interface.

So it will be always visible. To turn on/off in-game UE4 gives function SetVirtualJoystickVisibility. Look at the blueprint example below, by pressing Tab it turns on/off.

That’s all. Feel free to ask questions.

Thanks for your attention!

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