LightWave Digital Teases LightWave 3D 2026 Update

It's time for the annual update of LightWave 3D, and LightWave Digital has unveiled new features that will be included in the upcoming major release of its 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software.

MotoRig is a comprehensive vehicle rigging and animation solution that should be able to handle everything from basic wheel setup and accurate terrain following to advanced suspension dynamics and realistic physics-based motion. Besides regular four-wheel vehicles, MotoRig can also handle six- and eight-wheel vehicles.

VFX artists gain several new tools, including THOR, a procedural lightning generator that creates electrical effects between two objects, a Fracture tool for breaking meshes into pieces using various point distribution methods, and Snow Falling 3D, which enables real-time snow or rain effects with physics simulation.

Additionally, LightWave 2026 introduces Advanced Placement, a real-time tool for scattering and positioning objects directly in the scene. It uses a physics engine so items can fall, bounce, roll, and settle naturally. The interface also provides dynamic control over properties such as collision shape, mass, friction, bounciness, applied force, and more.

Another key addition in this release is a built-in asset browser. It supports a wide range of formats, including images, HDRIs, videos, 3D models, IES lighting files, and specialized asset libraries. Quixel Megascans and Maxtree integrations are also available.

You can watch LightWave Digital's preview livestream below for more details and check out the official website:

LightWave 2026 is currently in beta, with a full release coming soon. Subscribe to our Newsletter, join our 80 Level Talent platform, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, and Instagram, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

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