overview the tools better

Author: TylerMSFT

gamedev/unreal/get-started/vs-tools-unreal-blueprint-debugger.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: "Debug Unreal Engine Blueprints in Visual Studio"
 description: "Learn how to use Visual Studio's Blueprint debugger to debug Unreal Engine Blueprint code alongside C++ code."
-ms.date: 06/17/2025
+ms.date: 06/18/2025
 ms.topic: how-to
 ms.service: visual-studio
 ms.subservice: unreal-engine-tools
@@ -28,22 +28,21 @@ Visual Studio Blueprint debugger support provides:
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-- Visual Studio 2022 17.14 or later with the **Game development with C++** workload and **Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints** component installed.
+- Visual Studio 2022 17.14 or later with the **Game development with C++** workload installed.
+- **Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints** component.
+- **Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine** component.
+- Unreal Engine plugin for Visual Studio.
 - Unreal Engine installed with debug symbols.
-- Visual Studio plugin for Unreal Engine installed.
+- Visual Studio plugin for Unreal Engine.
 
 ## Install prerequisites
 
-Run the Visual Studio Installer to install the required components to debug Unreal Engine Blueprints. For more information on installing Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine, see [Get started with Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine](vs-tools-unreal-quickstart.md).
+Run the Visual Studio Installer to install the required components to debug Unreal Engine Blueprints. For more information about installing Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine, see [Get started with Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine](vs-tools-unreal-quickstart.md).
 
-1. On the **Workloads** pane, make sure the **Game development with C++** workload is installed.
+1. On the **Workloads** pane, make sure the **Game development with C++** workload is installed, along with **Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints** and **Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine**:
 
     :::image type="content" source="../media/vs-installer-unreal-engine-workload.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Visual Studio installer. The Game development with C++ workload is selected. In the installation details pane, Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine, Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints, HSL Tools, And Windows 11 SDK are selected." lightbox="../media/vs-installer-unreal-engine-workload.png":::
 
-1. On the **Individual components** pane, make sure **Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints** is installed:
-
-    :::image type="content" source="../media/vs-unreal-engine-install-blueprints-debug-tools.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Visual Studio installer Individual components pane. Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints is selected.":::
-
 ### Install Unreal Engine debug symbols
 
 Install debug symbols for each version of Unreal Engine you debug with Visual Studio:
@@ -60,6 +59,16 @@ Install debug symbols for each version of Unreal Engine you debug with Visual St
 
 1. Select **Apply**, then wait for the download to finish.
 
+### Install Unreal Engine plugin for Visual Studio
+
+The Unreal Engine plugin for Visual Studio installs into Unreal Engine and is automatically activated when you open an Unreal Engine project in Visual Studio. This plugin provides the necessary integration between Unreal Engine and Visual Studio to view enriched Blueprint node pin values in the Visual Studio debugger local variables window.
+
+For manual installation instructions, see [vc-ue-extensions](https://github.com/microsoft/vc-ue-extensions).
+
+If you have an Unreal Engine project that you can open in Visual Studio, another way to install the plugin is in Visual Studio via the Unreal Engine Configuration window. With an Unreal Engine project opened in Visual Studio, choose **Project** > **Configure Tools for Unreal Engine** to open the **Unreal Engine Integration Configuration** window. Then in the Visual Studio Integration Tool Status section, select **Install to Project** or **Install to Engine** as meets your needs. If you don't see the install buttons, choose the refresh icon in the top right corner of the window to refresh the status.  There is also a **Manual installation instructions** link that opens the [vc-ue-extensions](https://github.com/microsoft/vc-ue-extensions/blob/main/README.md) page, if you need to install the plugin manually.
+
+    :::image type="content" source="../media/unreal-engine-configuration-page-plugin.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Unreal Engine Integration Configuration window. In the Visual Studio Integration Tool Status section, the refresh, Install to Project, Install to Engine buttons are highlighted. The Manual installation instructions link is also highlighted.":::
+
 ## Set up a test project
 
 To test the Blueprint debugger functionality, create a project that contains Blueprints and C++ code. The Unreal Engine **First Person** template works well.

gamedev/unreal/get-started/vs-tools-unreal-install.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: "Install Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine"
 description: "Learn how to connect Unreal Engine and Visual Studio. Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine offers support for writing and debugging C++ Unreal Engine games."
-ms.date: 06/13/2025
+ms.date: 06/18/2025
 ms.service: visual-studio
 ms.subservice: unreal-engine-tools
 ms.topic: get-started
@@ -12,14 +12,16 @@ manager: Coxford
 
 # Install Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine
 
-This article helps you install Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine (UE). These tools allow you to do the following from within Visual Studio:
+This article helps you install tools that allow you to do the following from within Visual Studio:
 
-- Add UE classes
 - View UE logging
 - View and expand UE macros
-- View and find references to UE Blueprints<sup>*</sup>
+- Add UE classes, modules, and plugins
+- Discover, run, manage, and debug Unreal Engine tests
+- Debug C++ code called by Unreal Engine Blueprints and see Blueprint information in the Visual Studio debugger
+- View and find references to UE Blueprints
+
 
-<sup>*</sup>As of Visual Studio 2022 version 17.7, you no longer need the Unreal Engine Visual Studio Integration Tool plugin to view UE Blueprints in Visual Studio.
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
@@ -30,11 +32,14 @@ Install the following before you install Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine:
 
 ## Installation
 
-This article covers installing tools to enhance writing and debugging Unreal Engine code in Visual Studio:
+This article covers installing tools to enhance writing and debugging Unreal Engine (UE) code in Visual Studio. Here's an overview of the tools that you can install:
 
-- **Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine**: Add Unreal Engine (UE) classes, modules, view UE logging, see UE macro expansions, find blueprint references, and so on in Visual Studio.
-- **Unreal Engine Test Adapter**: Discover, run, manage, and debug your Unreal Engine tests from within Visual Studio.
-- **Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints**: See information about Unreal Engine Blueprints while debugging.
+| Tool | Installs into | Notes |
+|--|--|--|
+| Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine | Visual Studio | Add UE classes, modules, view UE logging, see UE macro expansions, find blueprint references, open UE .uprojects directly, and so on from within Visual Studio. *As of Visual Studio 2022 version 17.7, you no longer need the Unreal Engine Visual Studio Integration Tool plugin to view UE Blueprints in Visual Studio.* |
+| Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints | Visual Studio | Supports debugging C++ code called by Blueprints. Requires the UE plugin for Visual Studio to show Blueprint node pin values in the debugger. |
+| Unreal Engine Test Adapter | Visual Studio | Discover, run, manage, and debug your Unreal Engine tests from within Visual Studio. Requires the UE plugin for Visual Studio. |
+| Unreal Engine plugin for Visual Studio | Unreal Engine | Provides the integration between Unreal Engine and Visual Studio run UE tests in Visual Studio and viewing Blueprint node pin values in the Visual Studio Local Variables window. |
 
 Follow these steps to install the tools:
 
@@ -54,6 +59,13 @@ Follow these steps to install the tools:
 
    :::image type="content" source="../media/vs-installer-unreal-engine-workload.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Visual Studio installer. The Game development with C++ workload is selected. In the installation details pane, Visual Studio Tools for Unreal Engine, Visual Studio debugger tools for Unreal Engine Blueprints, HSL Tools, And Windows 11 SDK are selected." lightbox="../media/vs-installer-unreal-engine-workload.png":::
 
+To install the Unreal Engine plugin for Visual Studio, follow these steps:
+
+- For manual installation instructions, see [vc-ue-extensions](https://github.com/microsoft/vc-ue-extensions).
+- If you have an Unreal Engine project that you can open in Visual Studio, another way to install the plugin is in Visual Studio via the Unreal Engine Configuration window. With an Unreal Engine project opened in Visual Studio, choose **Project** > **Configure Tools for Unreal Engine** to open the **Unreal Engine Integration Configuration** window. Then in the Visual Studio Integration Tool Status section, select **Install to Project** or **Install to Engine** as meets your needs. If you don't see the install buttons, choose the refresh icon in the top right corner of the window to refresh the status.  There is also a **Manual installation instructions** link that opens the [vc-ue-extensions](https://github.com/microsoft/vc-ue-extensions/blob/main/README.md) page, if you need to install the plugin manually.
+
+    :::image type="content" source="../media/unreal-engine-configuration-page-plugin.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Unreal Engine Integration Configuration window. In the Visual Studio Integration Tool Status section, the refresh, Install to Project, Install to Engine buttons are highlighted. The Manual installation instructions link is also highlighted.":::
+
 ## Check for updates
 
 We recommend that you keep Visual Studio updated for the latest bug fixes, features, and Unreal Engine support. Updating Visual Studio doesn't require an update of Unreal Engine.