Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024Posted by Jim ThackerOtoy releases OctaneRender 2026.1 in alphahtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Otoy has released OctaneRender 2026.1, a new alpha preview of the GPU production renderer.It was released in parallel with OctaneRender 2025.1, the next actual production-ready build of the software, and showcases more experimental technologies.Features included in the initial alpha release include support for rendering 3D Gaussian Splats, and native MaterialX support, both previously scheduled for OctaneRender 2024.Those due to be added in future updates include new neural rendering modules and the much-delayed meshlet streaming system.Includes native support for MaterialX and 3D Gaussian SplatsOctaneRender 2026.1 includes a number of key features that Otoy has announced previously.They include native support for MaterialX, the open material standard increasingly being adopted in VFX workflows, and already supported in other renderers including Arnold, Houdinis Karma renderer, RenderMan, Unreal Engine and V-Ray.It also supports rendering of 3D Gaussian Splats, the new 3D scene reconstruction technology now being adopted in both VFX and architectural visualization, and supported in V-Ray.Both features were originally scheduled for the OctaneRender 2024 release cycle.Other features in the current alpha include real-time shader-based displacement, a new Neural Radiance Cache system, and support for trace sets.Neural rendering and meshlet streaming due in future updatesFeatures not included in the initial alpha, but scheduled for future OctaneRender 2026.1 updates, include the much-delayed meshlet geometry streaming system.Described as like Unreal Engines Nanite, but for path tracing, it was originally announced for the Octane 2023 release cycle, then re-announced for 2024.Other features scheduled for future updates include neural rendering, intended to make it possible to launch [machine learning] and neural filters locally or through the Render Network.So when will these features become production-ready?This is the first time that Otoy has released a preview build for the next-year-but-one, so its difficult to say when the features in Octane 2026.1 will reach a stable release.Its also difficult to say whether all of the features will actually become production-ready by 2026: this is the third year that meshlets have been announced, without reaching even an alpha build.For those reasons, its probably better to treat OctaneRender 2026.1 simply as a chance to test some of the experimental technologies that Otoy has in development.Well bring you more detailed coverage of the features once they seem closer to a final release.Price, system requirements and release dateOctaneRender 2026.1 is currently in alpha. Otoy hasnt announced a final release date.OctaneRender is compatible with Windows 10+ and Linux, and requires a CUDA 10-capable NVIDIA GPU.The native Metal edition, Octane X, is compatible with macOS 14.0+ on Macs with Apple M1 and later processors, and with iPadOS 17.0+ on devices with A12 Bionic and later chips.The software is rental-only, via Otoys Studio+ subscriptions, which cost 23.95/month, and which include integration plugins for 21 DCC applications, plus a range of third-party software.Otoy also provides free Prime editions of both OctaneRender and Octane X, which are limited to rendering on a single GPU, and which come with a smaller set of DCC integration plugins.Read a full list of new features in OctaneRender 2026.1 on Otoys forumHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsAdobe releases After Effects 25.1Check out the changes to 3D workflows in the latest update to the compositing software for motion graphics and VFX work.Wednesday, December 4th, 2024Otoy releases OctaneRender 2026.1 in alphaExperimental preview showcases new tech in development for the GPU renderer, including native MaterialX and 3DGS support.Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024Otoy releases OctaneRender 2025.1 in betaCheck out the new features in the next major production version of the GPU renderer, including new decal and lens effects systems.Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024iClone 8.52 adds new AI-assisted character posing systemMajor update to the real-time animation app adds new AI-based AccuPose system, plus motion trails and non-destructive clip editing.Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024Download ActionVFX's 20 free stock VFX clips of asteroidsThe clips of asteroids and asteroid fields are licensed for commercial use - but you need to grab them by the end of 3 December.Monday, December 2nd, 2024Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Holiday 2024 deals for CG artistsUpdated 3 December: Discover discounts on CG hardware and software available during Cyber Week, from Autodesk to ZBrush.Saturday, November 30th, 2024More NewsNekki releases Cascadeur 2024.3Exclusive Cyber Weekend offer on The Gnomon Workshop trainingTutorial - Maya for Animators: Body Mechanics3DGS Render 2.0 now lets you edit 3D Gaussian Splats in BlenderNevercenter releases Silo 2025 and Milo 2025Boris FX releases Sapphire 2025Epic Games releases RealityCapture 1.5KeenTools releases FaceTracker for BlenderCheck out Blender crowd animation add-on Population 2Download SideFX's free Project Greylight toolkit for HoudiniAdobe releases Photoshop 26.1Chaos ships Corona 12 Update 1 for 3ds Max and Cinema 4DOlder Posts