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Overview

Referenced assets are represented by Unreal objects, and you load data directly onto those objects:
  • URiveImageAsset
  • URiveFontAsset

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How Asset Loading Works

When a .riv contains referenced assets:
  • The plugin tracks them by asset ID.
  • Referenced assets are created as Unreal assets alongside your imported URiveFile.
  • The runtime decodes and applies bytes through typed asset classes.
For image/font replacements at runtime, use the asset objects directly:
  • Images: LoadTexture(UTexture2D*) or LoadImageBytes(const TArray<uint8>&)
  • Fonts: LoadFontFace(UFontFace*) or LoadFontBytes(const TArray<uint8>&)
  1. In the Rive Editor, set assets to Referenced if you want to supply them outside the .riv.
  2. Import the .riv into Unreal.
  3. Locate generated referenced assets in Content Browser (typically named like AssetName-AssetId).
  4. In Blueprint or C++, hold references to those URiveImageAsset / URiveFontAsset objects.
  5. Before or during playback, call the load function that matches your source data.

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Blueprint Runtime Replacement

Use object references to your Rive asset objects and call:
  • Load Texture on RiveImageAsset for a Texture2D
  • Load Image Bytes on RiveImageAsset for raw encoded image bytes
  • Load Font Face on RiveFontAsset for a Font Face
  • Load Font Bytes on RiveFontAsset for raw font bytes
After loading, continue rendering with your RiveFile/RiveArtboard normally.

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C++ API Surface

Use these headers: 
#include "Rive/Assets/RiveImageAsset.h"
#include "Rive/Assets/RiveFontAsset.h"
Runtime-loading functions: 
URiveImageAsset::LoadTexture(UTexture2D* InTexture);
URiveImageAsset::LoadImageBytes(const TArray<uint8>& InBytes);

URiveFontAsset::LoadFontFace(UFontFace* InFont);
URiveFontAsset::LoadFontBytes(const TArray<uint8>& InBytes);

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Important Notes

  • Referenced asset resolution is ID-based inside the plugin.
  • If your project uses image data binding for dynamic visuals, prefer that path for per-instance image changes.

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Troubleshooting

  • If a referenced asset does not update, confirm you are editing the correct generated Rive asset object (AssetName-AssetId).
  • If bytes-based loading fails, validate file format and byte contents (supported image/font formats only).
  • Reimporting the .riv can regenerate/update metadata; re-check referenced asset objects after reimport.