--- title: "Agent Skill to Game-Dev Skill: Unreal Enhanced Input (UNREAL)" platform: "Promptally" canonical_url: "https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-unreal-enhanced-input" modality: "SKILL" category: "Game Development" compatible_models: [Universal / Model Agnostic] access_tier: "Free Public Artifact (No Auth Required)" license: "MIT" --- # Agent Skill to Game-Dev Skill: Unreal Enhanced Input (UNREAL) **Summary:** Agent Skill to Game-Dev Skill: Unreal Enhanced Input (UNREAL) is a verified SKILL blueprint on Promptally in Game Development optimized for leading AI models. Set up player input in Unreal Engine 5 with Enhanced Input: Input Actions, Input Mapping Contexts, modifiers and triggers, adding the mapping context, and binding actions by ETriggerEvent. Use when wiring movement/look/jump input, creating IA /IMC assets, binding in C++ or Blueprints, or when the user mentions Enhanced Input, Input Mapping Context, Input Action, IA /IMC , or ETriggerEvent. Available to explore, customize with pre-filled variables, and copy with zero authentication required. ## Technical Specifications | Property | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Platform Registry | Promptally (https://app.promptally.dev) | | Modality | SKILL | | Category | Game Development | | Compatible Engines | Universal / Model Agnostic | | Dynamic Variables | None (Static Blueprint) | | Approx. Token Length | 1,656 | | Access Tier | Free Public Artifact (No Auth Required) | | License | MIT | ### Pre-Filled Template & Production Source ````md --- name: unreal-enhanced-input description: > Set up player input in Unreal Engine 5 with Enhanced Input: Input Actions, Input Mapping Contexts, modifiers and triggers, adding the mapping context, and binding actions by ETriggerEvent. Use when wiring movement/look/jump input, creating IA_/IMC_ assets, binding in C++ or Blueprints, or when the user mentions Enhanced Input, Input Mapping Context, Input Action, IA_/IMC_, or ETriggerEvent. --- # Unreal Enhanced Input Wire player input the modern UE5 way with the **Enhanced Input** system: data-driven Input Actions and Mapping Contexts instead of the legacy Project Settings axis/action mappings. Targets **UE 5.8** (Enhanced Input is the default; legacy input is deprecated). ## When to use - Use when adding movement/look/jump/fire input, creating Input Action (`IA_`) and Input Mapping Context (`IMC_`) assets, applying modifiers/triggers, adding a mapping context to a player, or binding actions in C++ or Blueprints. - Use when the project has `IA_*`/`IMC_*` assets or references `EnhancedInput`. **When *not* to use:** engine-agnostic input *architecture* (rebinding strategy, buffering, multi-device design) → `input-systems`. The Pawn/Character C++ those bindings live in → `unreal-cpp-gameplay`. ## Core workflow 1. **Enable the module/plugin.** Enhanced Input is on by default in UE5; for C++ binding add `"EnhancedInput"` to `PublicDependencyModuleNames` in `*.Build.cs`. 2. **Create Input Actions (`IA_`).** Each has a **Value Type**: `Digital (bool)` for buttons, `Axis1D (float)` for triggers, `Axis2D (Vector2D)` for movement/look. 3. **Create an Input Mapping Context (`IMC_`)** that maps keys/buttons to those actions. Use **Modifiers** to shape raw input (Negate, Swizzle Input Axis Values, Dead Zone) — e.g. WASD into one Axis2D needs Negate on A/S and a Swizzle on W/S. Use **Triggers** (Pressed, Hold, Tap) to decide *when* an action fires. The **Combo** trigger is deprecated in UE 5.8; don't build new input on it. 4. **Add the mapping context to the player** via the `EnhancedInputLocalPlayerSubsystem` (`AddMappingContext(IMC, Priority)`), usually in `BeginPlay`/possession. 5. **Bind actions** to handlers by `ETriggerEvent` (`Triggered`, `Started`, `Completed`, …) on the `EnhancedInputComponent`, and read the `FInputActionValue` in the handler. 6. **Verify** in PIE; the Enhanced Input debugging console commands (`showdebug enhancedinput`) show which actions trigger and their values. ## Patterns ### 1. Add the mapping context (C++ Character) ```cpp void AMyCharacter::BeginPlay() { Super::BeginPlay(); if (APlayerController* PC = Cast(GetController())) if (ULocalPlayer* LP = PC->GetLocalPlayer()) if (auto* Subsystem = LP->GetSubsystem()) Subsystem->AddMappingContext(DefaultMappingContext, /*Priority*/ 0); } // DefaultMappingContext is a UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere) TObjectPtr. ``` ### 2. Bind actions and read values ```cpp void AMyCharacter::SetupPlayerInputComponent(UInputComponent* PlayerInputComponent) { Super::SetupPlayerInputComponent(PlayerInputComponent); // The component is an Enhanced Input component when the plugin is active. // (Don't name the parameter InputComponent: that shadows AActor::InputComponent.) if (UEnhancedInputComponent* EIC = Cast(PlayerInputComponent)) { EIC->BindAction(MoveAction, ETriggerEvent::Triggered, this, &AMyCharacter::Move); EIC->BindAction(LookAction, ETriggerEvent::Triggered, this, &AMyCharacter::Look); EIC->BindAction(JumpAction, ETriggerEvent::Started, this, &ACharacter::Jump); EIC->BindAction(JumpAction, ETriggerEvent::Completed, this, &ACharacter::StopJumping); } } void AMyCharacter::Move(const FInputActionValue& Value) { const FVector2D Axis = Value.Get(); // Axis2D action AddMovementInput(GetActorForwardVector(), Axis.Y); AddMovementInput(GetActorRightVector(), Axis.X); } ``` ### 3. Blueprint equivalent (node flow) ```text Event BeginPlay -> Get Controller -> Cast To PlayerController -> Get Local Player -> Get EnhancedInputLocalPlayerSubsystem -> Add Mapping Context (IMC_Default, Priority 0) // IA_Move is exposed as its own event node in the Character's Event Graph: EnhancedInputAction IA_Move (Triggered) -> Action Value (Vector2D) -> Add Movement Input (Forward * Y, Right * X) ``` ## Pitfalls - **No input at all** — the mapping context was never added (`AddMappingContext`), or the player has no Local Player yet. Add it after possession/`BeginPlay`. - **Input works in single player but not on a client, or stops after respawn** — `BeginPlay` ran before the controller possessed the pawn, so `GetController()` was null. Add the context in an override of `PawnClientRestart()`, which runs on the owning client after possession (Epic's Input Overview does this), or in the PlayerController. - **Link/compile error binding in C++** — `"EnhancedInput"` isn't in `Build.cs` `PublicDependencyModuleNames`. - **WASD only moves on two keys / wrong axis** — Axis2D needs **Modifiers**: Negate on the negative keys (A, S) and a Swizzle Input Axis Values on the vertical (W/S) so both axes map correctly. Raw bindings without modifiers misbehave. - **`Get()` returns zero** — value-type mismatch: the Input Action is Digital/Axis1D, not Axis2D. Match the `Get()` to the action's Value Type. - **Action fires every frame unexpectedly** — `Triggered` repeats while held for a Down trigger; use `Started`/`Completed` for one-shots (jump press/release), or a Pressed/Tap trigger. - **Two contexts fight** — multiple mapping contexts stack by Priority; a higher-priority context can consume a key. Manage with priorities and `RemoveMappingContext`. ## References - For a complete first-/third-person C++ Character with Enhanced Input (header + source, including look/jump and a control-rebind note), read `references/cpp-setup.md`. - Primary docs: "Enhanced Input in Unreal Engine" (`https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/enhanced-input-in-unreal-engine`) and "Input Overview" (`https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/input-overview-in-unreal-engine`). ## Related skills - `input-systems` — engine-agnostic input architecture and rebinding strategy. - `unreal-cpp-gameplay` — the Character/Pawn class and module setup. - `fps-shooter` — composes input with a 3D controller and shooting. ```` ## Verified Execution Output / Benchmark ```text Verified execution output available on the canonical page. ``` ## Related Blueprints on Promptally - [Agent Skill to Community Mod Pack](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-community-mod-pack) - [Agent Skill to Game Dev Rust Godot](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-game-dev-rust-godot) - [Agent Skill to Godot Engine 3D Developer](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-godot-engine-3d-developer) - [Agent Skill to Solo Community Outreach](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-solo-community-outreach) - [Agent Skill to Game-Dev Skill: Router (GAMEDEV-SKILLS AWESOME-GAMEDEV-AGENT-SKILLS)](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-router-1) - [Agent Skill to Game-Dev Skill: Ebitengine Game (EBITENGINE)](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-ebitengine-game) - [Agent Skill to Game-Dev Skill: Godot Tilemap (GODOT)](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-godot-tilemap) - [Agent Skill to Game-Dev Skill: Godot Multiplayer (GODOT)](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-godot-multiplayer)