Asset Version：3.4 - 3.65 Engine version: 4.25 - 4.27,5.0 - 5.7

Seamless Asset Management During Gameplay

The RealTime Import/Export Plugin provides a robust solution for developers who need to handle external files while a game is running. This tool allows for the direct import of assets without requiring the Unreal Engine editor. Consequently, developers can create more dynamic experiences where users interact with their own files in real-time. To maintain high performance, the plugin caches all imported textures and sounds directly in RAM.

Supported File Formats for Import

The plugin supports a wide variety of industry-standard formats. For audio, users can import WAV and OGG files seamlessly. Image support is extensive, covering PNG, JPG, BMP, TGA, and TIFF formats. However, it is important to note that TGA and TIFF support is available starting with Unreal Engine 5. Additionally, the developer has implemented a color depth check for images to prevent crashes in newer engine versions.

Mesh importation is equally versatile. The plugin currently supports the following formats:

OBJ (including vertex color support)
FBX (with improved compatibility and speed)
STL (with crash-prevention fixes)
glTF and GLB (available in recent versions)

Advanced Runtime Export Capabilities

Beyond importing, the RealTime Import/Export Plugin offers essential export functions. Developers can export TextureRenderTarget2d data into byte formats such as BMP, PNG, and JPEG. Furthermore, procedural meshes can be exported as OBJ files. The creator has also added the ability to export textures, specifically supporting diffuse and normal maps. These features allow for greater flexibility in how data is saved and shared from within the application.

Technical Performance and Compatibility

This plugin is built for efficiency and ease of use. It does not utilize any third-party libraries, which eliminates potential licensing or installation issues. For Windows users, the “Open File Dialog” function allows for easy selection of files and directories. Moreover, the plugin supports asynchronous loading with progress displays, ensuring the user interface remains responsive during large file imports.

Compatibility extends across multiple platforms and engine versions. The plugin supports Windows, Android, and iOS. While it works across various versions of Unreal Engine 4 and 5, the developer recommends disabling nativization in UE4 Blueprints to avoid potential conflicts. Recent updates have also drastically increased import speeds for large FBX meshes and optimized tangent calculations from minutes to milliseconds.

Conclusion

The RealTime Import/Export Plugin is a comprehensive tool for runtime asset management. By offering support for diverse file types and providing stable export functions, it empowers creators to build interactive, file-driven applications. Whether you are working on a desktop or mobile project, this plugin simplifies the process of handling external content without the need for the editor environment.