Introduction to Verse and Creating Your First Device

🎮 What Is Verse?

Imagine you're building a Fortnite island with devices — things like triggers, timers, and item granters. Devices are awesome! But they only connect in certain ways. It's like a box of LEGO bricks where every brick has a fixed shape. You can build a lot, but some cool ideas just don't fit.

Verse is Epic Games' special programming language for Fortnite islands (and will also power Unreal Engine 6 — the future of game-making!). Think of Verse as a magic set of LEGO instructions that lets you invent your own brick shapes. If no device can do what you want, you write Verse code to make it happen yourself.

💡 Programming language — a way to give the computer a list of instructions it can follow, like a recipe for a game.

🛠️ What Is UEFN?

UEFN stands for Unreal Editor for Fortnite. It's the free app you use to build custom Fortnite islands on your computer. Think of it as your game-building workshop. You place devices, design the map, and write Verse code — all in one place.

🤔 Why Learn Verse?

Here's a quick list of super-powers Verse gives you:

• Complex interactions — Make a player's score change the color of a prop in real time.
• Precise timing — Spawn enemies at exactly the right moment.
• Brand-new rules — Invent a game mode that no device combo could ever build.
• Dynamic play — React to what a player does right now during the game.

📄 What Is a Verse Device?

A Verse device is a special object you make with code. Once you build it, it shows up in your Content Browser just like any other Fortnite device. You drag it onto your island, hit Launch Session, and your code runs when players start the game!

Think of it like baking a cake 🎂:

1. You write the recipe (Verse code).
2. You bake it (compile the code).
3. You put it on the table (drag the device into the level).
4. Everyone eats it (plays the game and your code runs!).

🗂️ Key Words to Know

🧭 How to Create Your First Verse Device — Step by Step

Follow these steps inside UEFN:

1. Open Verse Explorer — In the top menu bar, click Verse, then Verse Explorer.
2. Add a new Verse file — Right-click your project name and choose Add new Verse file to project.
3. Pick the template — In the window that pops up, click Verse Device.
4. Name your device — Type a name in the Device Name box. Let's call ours welcome_device.
5. Click Create — Your new file appears in Verse Explorer!
6. Open the file — Double-click it to open it in Visual Studio Code (a free code editor).

✅ Great job — you just created your first Verse file! Give yourself a high-five. 🙌

🔨 Compile and Place Your Device

Before you can use your device in the game, you have to compile it. Compiling means the editor reads your code and turns it into something the game understands.

1. In the menu bar, go to Verse > Build Verse Code.
2. Look in your Content Browser under the CreativeDevices folder. Your device should appear there!
3. Drag the device into your level (the island map).
4. Click Launch Session in the toolbar to playtest. Click Start Game when Fortnite opens.

Your code is now running on your island. 🎉