Cascadeur is developing a dedicated Unreal Engine Live Link plugin. The plugin will let animators stream complete animation sequences from Cascadeur into Unreal Engine in real time, without the need for manual file exports. The work is supported by a $50,000 Epic MegaGrant. No release date has been announced.
From workaround to plugin
Since Unreal Engine 5.4.3, Cascadeur has had what developer Nekki describes as a “temporary solution” for Live Link support. The dedicated plugin is intended to replace this stopgap, providing a direct pipeline between the two applications. At press time, Nekki has not provided technical documentation on data formats supported by the upcoming plugin.
What Live Link actually does
Live Link is Epic’s real-time streaming system for Unreal Engine. It passes animation or motion capture data directly into the engine without the need for exported files. The system is often used to drive digital characters with live motion capture, but it can also transmit pre-authored animation sequences. This makes it useful for previewing, iteration, and interactive workflows, where waiting on file exports slows production.
Other MegaGrant recipients
Cascadeur joins a long list of MegaGrant-funded tools and studios. Epic has previously awarded funding to projects such as Blender (for continued development of the open-source 3D suite), and numerous independent game developers and VFX toolmakers. The MegaGrant programme, launched in 2019, has distributed over $100 million to support development that benefits the wider realtime and 3D ecosystem.
Current Cascadeur 2025.2
Cascadeur 2025.2 runs on Windows 10+, Ubuntu 20.04+, and macOS 13.3+. The software is available in three licensing tiers. The Free edition is restricted to the proprietary .casc format and is limited to non-commercial use. The Indie licence costs $12 per month or $96 per year. The Pro licence costs $49 per month or $396 per year. Nekki’s rent-to-own system unlocks permanent usage rights after one year of continuous payment.
Test before you deploy
The Live Link plugin is still in development and no public build is available. As with all new workflow tools, readers are advised to test the plugin carefully before integrating it into production pipelines.
