This release introduces significant refactors and improvements to the MG Spatial Selection plugin, focusing on performance, modularity, and ease of use.
🚀 Key Features & Refactors
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Hybrid CPU/GPU Architecture: Refactored the selection logic to use a hybrid approach. The CPU handles high-performance overlap detection using UBoxComponent, while the GPU manages pixel-perfect visual masking via Material Parameter Collections (MPC).
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Enhanced Input Integration: Migrated selection triggers to the Enhanced Input system. The UMGSpatialSelectionComponent now automatically binds to a configurable UInputAction for seamless integration into modern UE5 projects.
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Decoupled Selection Actor: Introduced AMGSpatialSelectionActor to encapsulate the physical selection volume. This improves performance by offloading collision updates and allows for more flexible visual representations.
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Dynamic Material Feedback: Added real-time updates to Material Parameter Collections (SelectionCenter, SelectionExtent, SelectionOpacity). This enables "Terrain-Aware" selection masks that follow geometry without expensive CPU raycasts.
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Selection Decay System: Implemented a smooth "fade-out" effect (DecayTime) for the selection mask after the user finishes their selection, providing a more polished UX.
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Interface-Driven Interaction: Refined the IMGSpatialSelectionInterface to allow any actor to easily respond to selection events (e.g., showing a highlight ring or updating health bars) without tight coupling.
🔧 Technical Improvements
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Optimized Tick Management: Component and Actor ticking are now more strictly controlled, with UpdateThreshold checks to prevent unnecessary material parameter updates from micro-jitter.
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Flexible Collision Filtering: Added CollisionChannels array to the component settings, allowing users to easily define which actor types (Pawns, PhysicsBodies, etc.) should be selectable.
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Improved Life-cycle Management: Refined BeginPlay and EndPlay logic to ensure clean registration/unregistration of actors and proper cleanup of the transient selection actor.
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Debug Visualization: Added a bShowDebug toggle to draw internal selection boxes and trace points, making it easier to calibrate the selection volume height and extent.
📦 Demo Project Updates
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Updated the demo project to showcase the new refactored plugin.
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Included BP_TopDownCharacter and SelectionTestActor_BP as reference implementations of the new system.
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Synchronized .gitignore and build dependencies for better compatibility with Unreal Engine 5.7.