Why does Async Load Class Asset return null?

You're casting the result to an instance type. AsyncLoadClass returns a UClass; cast to TSubclassOf and spawn an actor from it. Don't cast to AActor.

Soft Object vs Soft Class?

Soft Object loads an instance asset (UTexture, USoundBase). Soft Class loads a class (UClass) for spawning. Pick by what you need to instantiate.

Use FStreamableManager or BP Async Load Asset / Async Load Class Asset nodes. Latent — runs over multiple frames. Promise-style continuation.

Fix: Unreal Soft Class Async Load Returns Null

Quick answer: Async Load Class Asset returns UClass. SpawnActor from it. Don’t cast to AActor instance.

Soft class reference for an enemy. AsyncLoadClass completes. You cast to AEnemy and get null. Wrong type — result is the class definition, not an instance.

The Fix

// BP
Async Load Class Asset (SoftClassRef = MyEnemyClass)
  → On Loaded (TSubclassOf<AActor> LoadedClass)
    → Spawn Actor from Class (Class = LoadedClass, Transform = ...)

// C++
UAssetManager::GetStreamableManager().RequestAsyncLoad(
    EnemyClass.ToSoftObjectPath(),
    FStreamableDelegate::CreateLambda([this] {
        auto* Cls = EnemyClass.Get();   // UClass*
        GetWorld()->SpawnActor<AActor>(Cls);
    })
);

Class then SpawnActor produces an instance. The two-step is intentional — soft references don’t auto-instantiate.

Verifying

Async load + SpawnActor: enemy appears. Direct cast: null. Confirm flow.

“Class then spawn. Two steps.”

Related Issues

For BP Interface defaults, see BPI. For BP Add Unique, see add unique.

Class first. Spawn second.