GetGameInstance — get persistent game instance

UGameplayStatics::GetGameInstance. Persists across level loads.

Game subsystem: persistent game manager with auto-init

SETUP: Create Blueprint inheriting UGameInstanceSubsystem (or UWorldSubsystem for level-scoped). Override Initialize(Collection) to set up. Override Deinitialize to clean up. Add game variables here (Score, PlayTime, Settings). ACCESS FROM ANYWHERE: GetGameInstance → GetSubsystem(BP_GameSubsystem) → CastTo<BP_GameSubsystem> → access variables. WHY: Subsystems auto-create, auto-destroy, and don't need FindActor. Better than GameInstance for well-organized systems. UGameInstanceSubsystem persists across levels. UWorldSubsystem is recreated each level.

SpawnSoundAtLocation — spawn persistent audio component at location

SaveGame

A class for persisting player progress to disk. Subclass USaveGame, add fields, then SaveGameToSlot / LoadGameFromSlot.

FlushPersistentDebugLines — clear all persistent debug draw

DoesSaveGameExist — check if save slot exists

SetLifeSpan — set actor lifetime before auto-destroy

0 = live forever.

Delay — wait for Duration seconds then continue

Exec output is 'Completed' (NOT 'then'). Does not block — execution continues after Delay node fires.

Checkpoint and autosave system with trigger volumes

Pattern: BP_Checkpoint with BoxTrigger, variable CheckpointID(int). OnBeginOverlap(Player) → DoOnce → CreateSaveGameObject(MySaveGame) → SET PlayerLocation, Health, Inventory, CheckpointID → SaveGameToSlot('AutoSave', 0). On death/respawn: LoadGameFromSlot('AutoSave') → Cast → TeleportTo(SavedLocation) → restore Health etc. Show 'Checkpoint Reached' UI briefly.

CreateSaveGameObject — create a new SaveGame instance

Cast ReturnValue to your SaveGame subclass (e.g. UBP_SaveGame) to set variables on it.