ue5-docker-build

name

ue5-docker-build

description

Build, package, and deploy Unreal Engine 5 projects using Docker containers. Generates Dockerfiles, docker-compose configurations, CI/CD pipelines, and GPU passthrough setups for UE5 game servers, pixel streaming, and automated builds. Use this skill when someone wants to containerize a UE5 project, set up Docker-based CI/CD for Unreal, deploy a UE5 dedicated server, configure pixel streaming in Docker, or build UE5 projects in containers. Also triggers for mentions of "ue4-docker", "unrealcontainers", "GHCR Epic images", or "containerized Unreal builds".

UE5 Docker Build Skill

Creates Docker-based build and deployment configurations for Unreal Engine 5 projects. Covers the full pipeline from containerized compilation to production deployment.

Process

Step 1: Determine Deployment Target

Ask the user what they need:

Target	Description
Game Server	Headless dedicated server in minimal container
Pixel Streaming	GPU-accelerated client with browser-based streaming
CI/CD Build	Automated build pipeline (GitHub Actions / GitLab CI)
Development	Full editor in container for reproducible builds
All-in-One	Complete stack with server + streaming + signaling

Step 2: Gather Project Details

• Project name (for container naming)
• UE version (5.5, 5.6, 5.7)
• Build configuration (Development, Shipping)
• Target platform (Linux only for containers)
• Server map (default map name for dedicated servers)
• Port requirements (game: 7777/udp, streaming: 80/tcp, 8888/tcp)

Step 3: Generate Configuration

Based on the target, generate the appropriate files. See references/dockerfiles.md for the full template library.

Game Server Dockerfile

# Multi-stage: build then deploy to minimal runtime
FROM ghcr.io/epicgames/unreal-engine:dev-slim-5.7 AS builder
COPY --chown=ue4:ue4 . /tmp/project

RUN /home/ue4/UnrealEngine/Engine/Build/BatchFiles/RunUAT.sh BuildCookRun \
  -project=/tmp/project/${PROJECT_NAME}.uproject \
  -platform=Linux -serverconfig=Shipping \
  -server -noclient \
  -cook -build -stage -pak -archive \
  -archivedirectory=/tmp/project/Packaged

FROM gcr.io/distroless/cc-debian12:nonroot
COPY --from=builder --chown=nonroot:nonroot \
  /tmp/project/Packaged/LinuxServer /home/nonroot/server
EXPOSE 7777/udp
ENTRYPOINT ["/home/nonroot/server/${PROJECT_NAME}/Binaries/Linux/${PROJECT_NAME}Server"]

Docker Compose for Full Stack

services:
  game-server:
    build:
      context: .
      dockerfile: Dockerfile.server
    ports:
      - "7777:7777/udp"
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - UE_MAP=DefaultMap
      - UE_MAX_PLAYERS=16

  pixel-streaming:
    build:
      context: .
      dockerfile: Dockerfile.streaming
    ports:
      - "80:80"
    deploy:
      resources:
        reservations:
          devices:
            - driver: nvidia
              count: 1
              capabilities: [gpu, video]
    depends_on:
      - signaling

  signaling:
    image: ghcr.io/epicgames/pixel-streaming-signalling-server:latest
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
      - "8888:8888"

Step 4: GPU Passthrough (if needed)

For pixel streaming or any rendering workload:

# Install NVIDIA Container Toolkit
curl -fsSL https://nvidia.github.io/libnvidia-container/gpgkey | \
  sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-container-toolkit-keyring.gpg
curl -s -L https://nvidia.github.io/libnvidia-container/stable/deb/nvidia-container-toolkit.list | \
  sed 's#deb https://#deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-container-toolkit-keyring.gpg] https://#g' | \
  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-container-toolkit.list
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y nvidia-container-toolkit
sudo nvidia-ctk runtime configure --runtime=docker
sudo systemctl restart docker

Step 5: CI/CD Pipeline

Generate CI/CD configuration for the user's platform. Templates available for:

• GitHub Actions (self-hosted GPU runner)
• GitLab CI (Docker-in-Docker with GPU tags)
• Epic's Horde build system

Step 6: Build and Test

# Build the container
docker build -t ${PROJECT_NAME}-server:latest -f Dockerfile.server .

# Test locally
docker run --rm -p 7777:7777/udp ${PROJECT_NAME}-server:latest

# For GPU workloads
docker run --rm --gpus all -p 80:80 ${PROJECT_NAME}-streaming:latest

Step 7: MCP Server Integration (Optional)

If the user wants Claude Code to control the containerized UE5 editor, add MCP server services:

services:
  ue5-editor:
    image: ghcr.io/epicgames/unreal-engine:dev-slim-5.7
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:6766:6766/tcp"   # Remote Control HTTP
      - "127.0.0.1:6767:6767/tcp"   # Remote Control WebSocket
    volumes:
      - /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix:rw
      - ${XAUTHORITY}:/tmp/.Xauthority:ro
      # NVIDIA Vulkan libraries (nvidia-container-toolkit doesn't inject these)
      - /usr/share/vulkan/icd.d/nvidia_icd.json:/usr/share/vulkan/icd.d/nvidia_icd.json:ro
      - /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libGLX_nvidia.so.0:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libGLX_nvidia.so.0:ro
      - /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-glcore.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-glcore.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:ro
      - /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-glvkspirv.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-glvkspirv.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:ro
      - /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-gpucomp.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-gpucomp.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:ro
      - /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-glsi.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-glsi.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:ro
      - /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-tls.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libnvidia-tls.so.${NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION}:ro
    environment:
      - DISPLAY=${DISPLAY}
      - XAUTHORITY=/tmp/.Xauthority
    deploy:
      
        
          
              
               
               []

  
     
    
       
       
       
    
       

Host-side setup before launching: xhost +local:docker

Detect NVIDIA driver version dynamically:

export NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION=$(nvidia-smi --query-gpu=driver_version --format=csv,noheader | head -1)

Security Best Practices

• Bind MCP ports to localhost only: 127.0.0.1:6766:6766
• Set MCP_AUTOMATION_ALLOW_NON_LOOPBACK=false (default)
• Use read-only content volumes: ./Content:/project/Content:ro
• Private Docker network with custom subnet for multi-service stacks
• UFW firewall: sudo ufw allow from 127.0.0.1 to any port 6766

Important Notes

• GHCR Access: Requires GitHub account linked to Epic Games account with read:packages PAT
• Licensing: UE EULA prohibits public distribution of dev images — use private registries only
• GPU: Only available at runtime, NOT during docker build
• Image Sizes: dev-slim ~35 GB, runtime ~2 GB — always use multi-stage builds
• Performance: Containers add <0.5ms to frame time (~110 FPS median)
• Vulkan in Docker: nvidia-container-toolkit injects CUDA but NOT Vulkan rendering libraries — bind-mount from host

Reference Files

• Dockerfile Templates — Full library of Dockerfile patterns