3D Software
Modelling, BIM and real-time software: releases and features.
AI imageEditable Motion Paths Makes Animation Editing Easier in Blender
J4m1ns’ free Blender add-on Editable Motion Paths displays bone and object animations as editable curves. It works with existing rigs and updates F-curves in real time.
AI imagegputaskman shows GPU memory-consuming processes in the terminal
Developed by Microsoft employee Scott Hanselman, the free, open-source gputaskman lists processes using GPU memory, engine activity, and runtimes in the terminal. The tool also monitors usage, clock speed, temperature, and power.
Blender 5.3 Released: Gaussian Splatting Support and Rendering Updates
Blender Foundation announced Blender 5.3 on 10 November 2026. The release brings 3D Gaussian Splatting support, improvements to EEVEE and Cycles, new Geometry Nodes tools, and image-editing updates.
AI imageGaffer 1.7.6 Released: Light Editor, Geometry Tools and MCP Connection
Gaffer 1.7.6 arrives with improvements to the light editor and new geometry tools. Its standout addition is an MCP connection for AI-assisted pipeline control.
AI imageUnreal Engine 5.9 Preview Is Out: Web Target and AI Tools
Epic Games has released Unreal Engine 5.9 MegaJam Preview. The preview includes Python and AI-powered workflows, as well as Web support aimed at running projects in a browser via WebAssembly and WebGPU.
AI imageClaim of $25 Billion Unity Acquisition Talks Makes Headlines
According to a report citing Reuters sources, investors including Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund discussed acquiring Unity. A possible $25 billion price tag was raised, but no deal was reached.
AI imageOmniscient turns an iPhone into a virtual camera in Blender
According to a 6 November 2026 report by Digital Production, Omniscient lets users operate an iPhone as a handheld virtual camera for Blender. The tool offers live preview, AR controls and camera animation recording.
AI imageQuixel Megascans Is Free on Fab, but Permanence Is Uncertain
According to an 80 Level report dated 6 November, the Quixel Megascans library is now free on Fab. The free access appears likely to be permanent, though this has not been confirmed; usage rights and refund terms for some purchases have also been updated.
AI imageMaya and Flow Supported the Multistyle Animation of The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat’s production team discussed the roles of Maya, Flow Production Tracking and Flow Capture in the film as part of Autodesk’s Made to Make series. Production required coordinating more than 800 people across different time zones.
V-Ray 7 Update 5 Released: AI and Real-Time Workflows
Chaos announced V-Ray 7 Update 5 on 5 November 2026. The update expands visualization workflows with AI tools, new lighting and volumetric features, AMD GPU support, and Vantage integrations.
AI imagePhysical Atmosphere² brings real-time procedural skies to Blender
Physical Addons has introduced the Physical Atmosphere² add-on for Blender. It updates procedural volumetric clouds and the atmosphere in the viewport in real time, while sun and moon positions can be set using date, time and location.
Enscape November 2026 Update: Visual Search, AI and PDF Support
On 4 November 2026, Chaos announced Enscape’s November update. Highlights include image-based Cosmos search, beta 3D model generation, in-app AI assistance, and PDF sharing in Chaos Cloud.
AI imageCozyBlanket Pro launches with retopology, UV and baking tools
Sparseal has released CozyBlanket Pro for Windows and macOS. The app brings together retopology, UV mapping and baking tools. While it’s free to download, saving and exporting require a license.
AI imageBGEN Hair combines hair, braids and simulation tools in Blender
M2ky’s BGEN Hair add-on brings hair grooming and simulation tools together in Blender. Compatible with Blender 4.5 and later, it offers different hair styles for film, stylized projects and game engines.
AI imageBlender 5.3 can import and render 3D Gaussian splats
In an announcement published on 30 October 2026, Blender developers said that Blender 5.3 adds support for 3D Gaussian splats. The beta version lets users import, edit and render splats.
AI imageSubstance 3D Painter 12.2 brings cage painting directly to the model
Adobe lets artists adjust the baking cage by painting directly on the model in Substance 3D Painter 12.2. Product manager Laurens Corijn discussed the update and the development of other baking tools.
AI imageCL Sculpt Assistant gives quick access to sculpting tools in Blender
The early access version of CL Sculpt Assistant, developed by Calappa Lab for Blender, is available to buy. The add-on provides shortcuts and viewport panels for sculpting tools and requires Blender 4.5 or later.
AI imagePhysics Scatter Creates Physics-Based Materials in Substance 3D Designer
Gilad Baruch’s Physics Scatter tool turns custom 3D meshes into piles using physics simulation inside Substance 3D Designer. Outputs can be exported as tileable material maps at resolutions of up to 8K.
AI imageUcupaint 3.0 is out: Blender texture painting gets separate displacement channels
Version 3.0 of Ucupaint, a free texture painting add-on for Blender, was announced on October 28, 2026. The update adds separate displacement channels, Adjustment Layers and customizable bake targets.
AI imageATILIM Takes First Place in the 2026 TEKNOFEST Architecture and Visual Design Competition
ATILIM, designed by Kenan Pençe, won first place in the Main Stage Design category of the 2026 TEKNOFEST Architecture and Visual Design Competition.
NVIDIA App 11.0.9 Adds DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction
NVIDIA’s 11.0.9 release notes list DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction support for the GeForce RTX series and per-application Resizable BAR settings. The official notes do not specify a release date.
AI imageBlender Dolly Zoom add-on adjusts camera framing with a single slider
Surf-Ace’s free Blender add-on, Dolly Zoom, makes it easier to adjust framing by changing the focal length as the camera or viewport moves. It works with Blender 4.2 LTS and later.
AI imageUV Unfoldr Brings a Maya-Style UV Workflow to 3ds Max
3D artist Sargis Ter-Grigoryan has released UV Unfoldr, a plugin that brings UV unwrapping and editing tools together in 3ds Max. It works non-destructively on the standard Unwrap UVW modifier.
AI imageMiller Planetarium reopens, preserving Wright’s circular design
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Miller Planetarium at Florida Southern College reopened to the public on September 26, 2026, following restoration. The original circular seating layout was preserved, while new digital projection and sound systems were installed.
About this category
The 3D Software category brings together updates on programs used every day in architecture and visualization, including 3ds Max, Blender, SketchUp, Revit, Rhino, Archicad, Cinema 4D, and Unreal Engine. Find new releases, notable plugins, licensing and pricing changes, and bug fixes that affect your workflow.
We verify release news against the developers’ own notes and add version numbers to the Release Radar, so you can see at a glance which versions are current. This category also covers transitions between modeling tools, BIM, and real-time engines; file compatibility; and new AI-powered tools.
We also look for answers to questions that matter to studios: Could upgrading break older projects? Which plugins aren’t compatible yet? How will changes to subscription plans affect costs? This makes it easier to decide when to upgrade.