Mastering Unreal Technology, Volume I: Introduction to Level Design with Unreal Engine 3

Chapter 12. Level Streaming

In the previous chapter, you learned several great ways to optimize your levels. In this chapter, we focus on a powerful new approach introduced with Unreal Engine 3.0: level streaming. With level streaming, you can load and unload level from memory during gameplay, on the fly. The concept itself is simple: A level doesn’t technically “exist” in the game until you approach it, and it ceases to exist as you leave it behind. You save crucial memory, even as you build games with enormous playable areas.

Some new games use level streaming to brilliant effect: In fact, it’s the key means of game progression in Gears of War. Other games, such as fast-paced multiplayer games like Unreal Tournament 3, don’t lend ...