Autodesk Maya & 3ds Max 2025.2 Released

Autodesk has rolled out new versions of both Maya and 3ds Max, its main 3D animation, modeling, and rendering software, introducing updates throughout the core toolsets.

The standout feature of the Maya 2025.2 release is the new ML Deformer, which enables efficient approximation of complex deformations to speed up animating, blocking, and crowd scenes. Autodesk advises using it for scenes where precision isn't critical, such as for background and crowds.

The Maya ML Deformer uses machine learning to quickly approximate complex deformations, enhancing character rig posing and playback. While it only creates an approximation, it accelerates character rig posing and playback to help layout artists and animators who want fast results.

It learns from a variety of animation data such as motion capture, keyframed animations, or randomized poses to train the model. After training, you can switch between the ML Deformer for interactive work and the original deformer for final rendering. The Training Results window and Target Morph help evaluate and compare different models.

Although the ML Deformer is the sole new feature in this release, Maya 2025.2 brings several updates to its existing plug-ins. Notably, LookdevX now includes the Ramp node for creating gradients in your graph, Arnold adds support for toon tone-mapping, and the latest version of Maya's USD workflow plug-in supports USD blendshapes.

Following the Maya release, Autodesk has introduced 3ds Max 2025.2, featuring several updated workflows. Now, the Flow Retopology plug-in for submitting retopology jobs to run in the cloud is also available to 3ds Max users.

Additionally, there's support for vector data in SVG format, new DCM modifier presets for turning mesh data into a selection and passing it up the modifier stack, as well as new ways to change channel data, and the ability to view cameras from a USD stage directly within 3ds Max's viewport.

Learn more about Maya and 3ds Max 2025.2 in the release notes, and don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.