For those who don’t know the tool: Dash runs inside Unreal Engine as an asset browser plus world-building toolkit. The Fab build ships the Content Browser only, while the website installer can also unlock the wider toolset with a paid license.

Two installs, one idea

Polygonflow now offers Dash in two distinct ways: as a free plugin on Fab and as the full Dash installer from the Polygonflow website.

The Fab listing calls the package “Dash – Advanced Asset Manager” and in this version, it is “just” a content browser that lets you search and drag and drop local assets into any UE5 project. It includes tagging for your own assets with a stated limit of up to 1,000 assets tagged per month, plus a Smart Collection System for organizing assets.

The website installer route matters more, because the Dash Content Browser itself has been available for free since Dash version 1.9.0, but the free license is limited to the Content Browser side of the toolset. The free license includes the supported libraries, the tagging system, and the centralized browsing experience across UE5 projects, but not other Dash tools such as Easy Scattering, Procedural Meshes, Physics Tools, or Material and Atmospheric Tools.

What is actually different between Fab and the website build

The Fab version includes the Content Browser only, and explicitly points to the website download if you want the full plugin toolset. The website build splits into two experiences. The free license stays content-only, meaning you use the Content Browser, library integrations, tagging, and centralized asset browsing. A paid license can unlock the other Dash tools, Easy Scattering, Procedural Meshes, Physics Tools, and Material / Atmospheric Tools. So the practical difference is not the content browser UI, it is how far you want to go beyond asset browsing once you are inside the same plugin shell.

Included libraries, and why that matters more than the tagline

Both the Fab listing and the Dash docs have the same core set of integrated libraries: Quixel Megascans via Fab or Quixel Bridge downloads, Amazon Berkeley Objects with 6,900 models, ambientCG with 2,300 textures plus HDRIs and decals, Poly Haven with 1,900 assets plus textures and HDRIs, The Base Mesh with 1,400 models, and the IES Library with 1,300 lighting presets.

On the website side, the Dash Asset Marketplace lives inside the Content Browser, with the Dekogon library and a Sierra library entry that includes one free pack.

Polygonflow also supports browsing and importing content across multiple UE projects from inside the project you are currently working in. The docs add a warning on version compatibility for external browsing: UE5 projects are forward compatible but not backward, so you can browse content from the same or older UE5 versions, not newer.

Custom assets, right now

In the Project Library tab, you can currently add your own static meshes, textures, and blueprints. The tagging flow focuses on making assets searchable beyond filenames and folder names, and the content browser adds collections for grouping assets into reusable sets.

Pricing and the usual production warning

On Fab, Dash – Advanced Asset Manager is free. Commercial pricing for paid Dash licenses is 8€ for students, 20€ per Month for professionals below the 250.000$ barrier, and 95€ per month for bigger studios. Test any new browser, tagging, or library workflow on a non-critical project before it touches production depots and shared team setups.

https://www.fab.com/listings/865301e9-2d26-425d-8f3c-e0aadf35da61
https://docs.polygonflow.io/advanced/free-content-browser

The post PolygoFlow Dash asset manager goes free on Fab first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Epic Games has released the Unreal Engine 5.6 Preview, now available for download via the Epic Games Launcher and GitHub. This preview introduces several significant updates aimed at enhancing the development experience across various domains.

The preview emphasizes the capability to create vast, high-fidelity open worlds while maintaining consistent 60Hz frame rates. This enhancement is geared towards delivering smoother performance in expansive environments.

Unreal Engine 5.6 features the most substantial update to its animation authoring tools to date. While specific details are not provided, this overhaul suggests a focus on improving the animation workflow for developers.

The MetaHuman Creator is now integrated directly within the engine. This integration includes capabilities for blending and sculpting MetaHuman bodies, improved visual fidelity, and new real-time workflows for the MetaHuman Animator.

Enhanced Content Browser and Viewport Layout

The introduction of Content Browser 2.0 and a new Viewport toolbar layout aims to streamline the development process, allowing for faster content creation and easier navigation within the engine.

Procedural Workflows for Expansive Worlds

Developers can now build expansive worlds more efficiently using enhanced procedural workflows. These workflows are designed to facilitate the rapid creation of complex environments.

Availability and Stability Notice

The Unreal Engine 5.6 Preview is currently available for download. However, as a preview release, it is still in active development and may be unstable. Users are advised to back up existing projects before testing the new features.

For more information and to download the preview, visit the official announcement.

The post Unreal Engine 5.6 Preview: Now with 60Hz Open Worlds and In-Engine MetaHumans first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.