text vs string: Showing Live Game Messages on Your Pirate Island HUD

Overview

Every time you want to show text to a player in UEFN — a countdown, a score, a story beat — you will touch both types:

Why two types?

Fortnite is a global game. The engine needs to know which strings are player-facing (and therefore candidates for translation) versus which are internal (debug labels, key lookups, log text). The message type is that contract. You cannot pass a raw string to hud_message_device.Show() or SetText() — the compiler rejects it. You must wrap it in a <localizes> function first.

The bridge: a <localizes> function

# Declare once at module scope (or class scope):
MyText<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

Now MyText("Ahoy, sailor!") produces a message you can hand to any HUD API. The {S} inside the string literal is Verse string interpolation — it embeds the value of S into the localized string at runtime.

When to reach for hud_message_device

Use it whenever you need to:

• Flash a contextual hint ("Step on the gangplank to board!")
• Show a dynamic value (remaining treasure chests, elapsed time)
• Sequence story beats without building a full UI widget

API Reference

hud_message_device

Used to show custom HUD messages to one or more agents.

Full public surface, resolved verbatim from the live Epic digest (Fortnite.digest.verse).

hud_message_device<public> := class<concrete><final>(creative_device_base):

Events (subscribe a handler to react):

Methods (call these to make the device act):

trigger_device

Used to relay events to other linked devices.

Full public surface, resolved verbatim from the live Epic digest (Fortnite.digest.verse). Inherited members are merged from trigger_base_device.

trigger_device<public> := class<concrete><final>(trigger_base_device):

Events (subscribe a handler to react):

Methods (call these to make the device act):

player

Full public surface, resolved verbatim from the live Epic digest (Verse.digest.verse). Inherited members are merged from agent.

player<native><public> := class<unique><persistent><module_scoped_var_weak_map_key><epic_internal>(agent):

Walkthrough

Scenario: A cel-shaded pirate island. Three trigger pads are hidden along the dock, the shore, and the clifftop. When a player steps on each one, a unique HUD message appears. After all three are found, the HUD announces "Treasure map complete!" and clears after five seconds. A fourth trigger (a reset pad back at the ship) clears all messages and resets the sequence.

Setup in UEFN editor

1. Place three trigger_device props at the dock, shore, and clifftop.
2. Place one trigger_device at the pirate ship (reset).
3. Place one hud_message_device anywhere on the island.
4. Create a new Verse device, wire the four triggers and the HUD device as @editable fields.

using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }
using { /Verse.org/Verse }

# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Localizes bridge — converts a runtime string into a message
# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
PirateMsg<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Main device
# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
pirate_island_hud_device := class(creative_device):

    # ── Editable fields (wire these in the UEFN editor) ──────
    @editable
    DockTrigger : trigger_device = trigger_device{}

    @editable
    ShoreTrigger : trigger_device = trigger_device{}

    @editable
    ClifftopTrigger : trigger_device = trigger_device{}

    @editable
    ResetTrigger : trigger_device = trigger_device{}

    @editable
    HUD : hud_message_device = hud_message_device{}

    # ── Internal state ────────────────────────────────────────
    var FoundCount : int = 0

    # ── Lifecycle ─────────────────────────────────────────────
    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        # Each trigger may only fire once per round
        DockTrigger.SetMaxTriggerCount(1)
        ShoreTrigger.SetMaxTriggerCount(1)
        ClifftopTrigger.SetMaxTriggerCount(1)

        # Display time: 4 seconds for clue messages
        HUD.SetDisplayTime(4.0)

        # Subscribe to each trigger
        DockTrigger.TriggeredEvent.Subscribe(OnDockTriggered)
        ShoreTrigger.TriggeredEvent.Subscribe(OnShoreTriggered)
        ClifftopTrigger.TriggeredEvent.Subscribe(OnClifftopTriggered)
        ResetTrigger.TriggeredEvent.Subscribe(OnResetTriggered)

    # ── Handlers ──────────────────────────────────────────────

    # TriggeredEvent sends ?agent — unwrap before using
    OnDockTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
        if (A := MaybeAgent?):
            set FoundCount += 1
            # Show a custom message to THIS specific agent
            HUD.Show(A, PirateMsg("Dock: X marks the first spot! ({FoundCount}/3)"))
            CheckComplete(A)

    OnShoreTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
        if (A := MaybeAgent?):
            set FoundCount += 1
            HUD.Show(A, PirateMsg("Shore: The tide hides the second clue! ({FoundCount}/3)"))
            CheckComplete(A)

    OnClifftopTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
        if (A := MaybeAgent?):
            set FoundCount += 1
            HUD.Show(A, PirateMsg("Clifftop: The crow's nest reveals all! ({FoundCount}/3)"))
            CheckComplete(A)

    OnResetTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
        # ClearAllMessages wipes the queue for every player
        HUD.ClearAllMessages()
        set FoundCount = 0
        # Re-enable the three clue triggers for a new round
        DockTrigger.Enable()
        ShoreTrigger.Enable()
        ClifftopTrigger.Enable()

    CheckComplete(A : agent) : void =
        if (FoundCount >= 3):
            # Persistent final message (DisplayTime 0.0 = forever until cleared)
            HUD.Show(A, PirateMsg("Treasure map complete! Return to the ship!"), ?DisplayTime := 0.0)

Line-by-line highlights

Common patterns

Pattern 1 — Dynamic float value in a HUD message (using ToString)

You often want to show a numeric value — elapsed time, distance, score. ToString<public>(Val:float)<reads>:string converts a float to a string, which you then wrap with your localizes function.

using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }
using { /Verse.org/Verse }

TimerMsg<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

timer_hud_device := class(creative_device):

    @editable
    HUD : hud_message_device = hud_message_device{}

    @editable
    StartTrigger : trigger_device = trigger_device{}

    var ElapsedSeconds : float = 0.0

    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        StartTrigger.TriggeredEvent.Subscribe(OnStartTriggered)

    OnStartTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
        if (A := MaybeAgent?):
            set ElapsedSeconds += 1.0
            # ToString converts float -> string; TimerMsg wraps it as message
            TimeStr : string = ToString(ElapsedSeconds)
            HUD.Show(A, TimerMsg("Time at sea: {TimeStr}s"))

Pattern 2 — Broadcast to ALL players + query display time

Sometimes you want every player to see the same announcement (a wave starting, a ship sinking). Use the no-arg Show(Message) overload and verify the current display time with GetDisplayTime().

using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }
using { /Verse.org/Verse }

Announce<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

broadcast_hud_device := class(creative_device):

    @editable
    HUD : hud_message_device = hud_message_device{}

    @editable
    WaveTrigger : trigger_device = trigger_device{}

    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        WaveTrigger.TriggeredEvent.Subscribe(OnWaveTriggered)

    OnWaveTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
        # Check current display time before overriding it
        CurrentTime : float = HUD.GetDisplayTime()
        if (CurrentTime < 3.0):
            HUD.SetDisplayTime(5.0)

        # No-arg Show broadcasts to ALL players on the island
        HUD.Show(Announce("A pirate ship approaches the lagoon!"))

Pattern 3 — Hide a message per-agent + subscribe to HideMessageEvent

Sometimes you need to react after a message disappears — for example, to re-enable a trigger only after the player has read the clue.

using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }
using { /Verse.org/Verse }

ClueMsg<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

hide_aware_device := class(creative_device):

    @editable
    HUD : hud_message_device = hud_message_device{}

    @editable
    ClueTrigger : trigger_device = trigger_device{}

    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        ClueTrigger.TriggeredEvent.Subscribe(OnClueTriggered)
        # React when the HUD message is hidden for any agent
        HUD.HideMessageEvent.Subscribe(OnMessageHidden)

    OnClueTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
        if (A := MaybeAgent?):
            # Show for 6 seconds, then re-enable the trigger
            HUD.Show(A, ClueMsg("The cove entrance is behind the waterfall."), ?DisplayTime := 6.0)
            # Disable while reading
            ClueTrigger.Disable()

    OnMessageHidden(A : agent) : void =
        # Message gone — player has had time to read it; re-enable
        ClueTrigger.Enable()

Gotchas

1. string ≠ message — the compiler will not auto-convert

This fails:

# WRONG — string is not message
HUD.SetText("Ahoy!")          # compile error
HUD.Show(A, "Ahoy!")          # compile error

You must go through a <localizes> function:

Msg<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"
HUD.SetText(Msg("Ahoy!"))     # ✅

2. There is NO StringToMessage built-in

A common search. It does not exist. The <localizes> bridge pattern above is the only way to produce a message from a runtime string.

3. ?agent must be unwrapped before use

TriggeredEvent sends ?agent (an option). Passing it directly to HUD.Show(Agent, ...) fails because Show expects agent, not ?agent:

# WRONG
OnTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
    HUD.Show(MaybeAgent, Msg("Hi"))   # compile error

# CORRECT
OnTriggered(MaybeAgent : ?agent) : void =
    if (A := MaybeAgent?):
        HUD.Show(A, Msg("Hi"))        # ✅

4. SetText vs Show — they do different things

SetText(Text:message) stores the message on the device but does not display it. You still need to call Show() afterwards. Use SetText when you want to pre-configure the message and trigger display later (e.g., from a linked device in the editor).

5. DisplayTime := 0.0 means persistent, not instant

Passing ?DisplayTime := 0.0 keeps the message on screen until you explicitly call Hide() or ClearAllMessages(). A negative value (or omitting the argument) falls back to the device's configured display time.

6. int ↔ float is not automatic

If you store a counter as int and want to show it, you cannot pass it directly to ToString(Val:float). Either store it as float, or cast: Verse has no implicit numeric coercion. Use a separate IntMsg<localizes>(I:int):message = "{I}" localizes function to embed an int directly via interpolation instead.