3ds Max 2025.3 Update released introducing the OpenPBR shading model
Autodesk has released 3ds Max 2025.3 release. Improvements include updates to the Array Modifier and Boolean Modifier for significantly faster processing times, enhancements in animation workflows, and the introduction of the OpenPBR shading model. This release also brings a new update to the Universal Scene Description plug-in, as well as improvements to the Arnold for 3ds Max rendering engine.
The Array Modifier now delivers up to 250% faster processing, a notable increase from previous versions. The Boolean Modifier has also been optimized, achieving a 20-50% speed boost for volume-based meshing operations.
For animators, 3ds Max 2025.3 addresses long-standing issues in the Character Animation Toolkit and Biped. Several fixes target stability and functionality, such as resolving FBX warnings about unsupported controllers and fixing issues in the CATMotion Editor related to rig evaluation and cloning. Biped-specific improvements include fixes for translation errors in extra bones when loading FBX animations and improvements in MaxScript functionality for copying and pasting animation data.
3ds Max also introduces OpenPBR, a new shading model co-developed by Autodesk and Adobe. Positioned as the successor to Autodesk Standard Surface, OpenPBR introduces physically realistic material presets and the promise of interoperability between different applications. The new material is available in the Slate and Compact Material Editors and is supported by the Arnold rendering engine in the 2025.3 release. Other renderers will need to add support for this material.
The updated Universal Scene Description plug-in now offers users more control over prim properties, allowing for easier inspection and editing of USD assets. Additional features include the ability to import USD curves as 3ds Max shapes and enhanced snapping options for USD mesh prims, plus much more.
The Arnold 5.7.5.0 plug-in for 3ds Max has been upgraded to include a variety of new features. Notably, as mentioned, the release integrates the new OpenPBR surface shader, improving surface realism with better reflectivity models and support for AMD GPUs in denoising through Intel’s Open Image Denoise technology. Other Arnold improvements include enhanced volume rendering, faster startup times for GPU-based rendering, and the introduction of a customizable toolbar for quicker access to frequently used Arnold tools. Additionally, new volume scattering parameters allow for more efficient and visually accurate rendering of complex scenes like clouds.
To get a full list of all the new features and improvements, visit the 3ds Max 2025.3 help pages and the release notes.
Very cool, I’m still enjoying 3ds max almost 30 years later! Still a workhorse and always delivering. Now, here come the blender boys, letting us know how this is just another lack luster release and that we should move over to their software.
Yeah Blender is the best, it’s free… but somehow still never saw it in production in over 12 years of work.
For version 2.8, they made blender less blender and more standard and to this day, that was the most exciting update they ever did, then they went back thinking blender is great being weird and getting inspired by Autodesk is evil…
Blender devs, if you are reading this. Make blender like an open source maya like with a shelf and the same outliner system, similar animation workflow and you will see your fund double in a year…
Pah…this is just another lack luster release and that every 3dsmax user should move over to Blender, which is far superior in all regards…
Is there something similar to Ornatrix in blender? Tyflow? Blender has couple of nice modelling addons, that’s far from ‘far superior’…
But those are not 3DSMax, they’re all plugins.. That’s what’s keeping max alive, it’s thriving plugin ecosystem. Let’s be honest here, AD could try a bit harder..
That’s exactly My question. Blender have couple of nice modeling plugins that look interesting, I’m asking if it has some good hair and simulation solutions too. Barebones blender without plugins is nothing special.
Wow constant releases sure are great! Not like before when you had to wait about 6 months for a service pack to fix the new release bugs then another 12-18 months for them to get around to fixing all the new feature bugs. Looks at calendar…Heyyyy wait a minute.
Biped’s Last anything update in the year of our lord 2001.
Biped Update in 2024:
FBX thing + some bone rotation fixes.
Biped expected Update from users for over 20 years:
1 – Updated interface so we don’t rely ona million scripts each half functional. simple floating interface that shows layered animations and all other fucntions correctly.
2 – Laoding times of motion panel takes a second or two with each biped bone selection since it needs to load the entire interface again.
3 – Biped copy paste pose is broken since forever, it doens’t take into accoutn the Bip Root.
4 – Better handling of IK FK switch with proper interface.
5 – Spline IK support for the lower pelvis!
Can someone at Autodesk atleast get the first 3 done please before we move forwardw ith the others. Its been 25 years already, is there really no one out there to give us a proper interface for this awesome toolset!!???