Epic Games has released the Ancient Temple Ruins asset pack as part of its time-limited free content on Fab. The pack includes 80 modular environment assets for creating ruined temple scenes and will remain free to download until 13 January 2026.

Created by Shapefarm Senior Environment Artist Rasmus Bagner, the set provides modular architecture (walls, roofs, floors), vegetation (trees, palms, rubber plants) and a range of small scatter props. The assets are built for Unreal Engine 5, making full use of Nanite virtualised geometry. All textures ship at up to 4096×4096px resolution.

Lumen lighting and engine flexibility

The included sample project demonstrates the assets within a Lumen lighting setup, featuring four predefined lighting environments. According to Epic, only the main tree asset includes LODs; all other models rely on Nanite for rendering efficiency. The pack is compatible with Unreal Engine 5.2 or newer.

Although designed for Unreal, the assets are released under the Fab Standard licence, which allows use in “any engine or tool”, including for commercial projects, as long as users comply with the Fab EULA.

Download and production notes

The Ancient Temple Ruins pack can be claimed from Fab’s listing page before the deadline. Once added to a user’s library, the assets remain available permanently. The models can be imported into other tools such as Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max through standard file export.

As with any new asset pack, we recommend testing performance and compatibility within active pipelines before using the models in production scenes. Seriously. Remember your New Year’s resolutions!

The post Epic drops 80 free temple assets on Fab first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Epic Games has made another large-scale Unreal Engine environment available for free download. The Abandoned Cathedral pack by creator RagTarock is part of this month’s free content on Fab, Epic’s online marketplace for 3D assets. It remains free until 21 October 2025.

The set includes 210 modular meshes designed to build a derelict cathedral and its surroundings, with support for Unreal Engine 5.3 and newer. The collection is targeted at real-time artists developing games, cinematic sequences, or VFX environments.

Over 200 Assets, All Modular

The Abandoned Cathedral Environment comprises over 170 unique meshes covering architectural components, interior furniture, and exterior vegetation. Every model is optimised for game use, with collision data generated automatically. According to the Fab listing, the assets are game-ready, high-quality, and built with a focus on detail. They ship with a finished demo map, pre-lit using Lumen, Unreal Engine’s real-time global illumination system.

Technical Breakdown

The pack features five master materials and 79 material instances, along with 249 textures at a maximum resolution of 4,096 x 4,096 pixels. Poly count ranges from 8 to 3,370,000 triangles, depending on the asset. No Level of Detail (LOD) models are included. The asset supports both Nanite and Lumen, Epic’s real-time geometry and lighting systems. Lumen is enabled by default. The pack runs on Windows and is compatible with Unreal Engine versions 5.3 through 5.6. Distribution is via Fab as a standard asset package, last updated on 23 September 2025.

Licensing and Compatibility

As stated under the Fab Standard License, users may integrate the assets into any engine or tool, including commercial projects, within the restrictions outlined in the Fab EULA. The Abandoned Cathedral pack will revert to paid status after 21 October 2025, at which point the free offer expires.

Practical Note

Production teams should test the materials, Nanite settings, and Lumen performance in their own pipeline before deployment. Bous points, if you mash this Asset collection with the Washington DC collection from last week into a postapocalyptic game.

The post Free 3D Cathedral Kit Lands on Fab first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Cleaning out the junk in the cellar or the back room of the studio has never been easier—at least digitally. Epic Games is giving away ScansMatter’s Warehouse Environment asset pack via the Fab marketplace until 26 August 2025.

The ScansMatter Warehouse contains 165 modular, production-quality 3D assets ranging from full building structures and racking systems to pallets, crates, drums, forklifts and hand carts. No idea if you can certify on that forklift, but … that’s a different topic. Designed for high-end game, cinematic, and VFX workflows, all assets are fully optimised for Unreal Engine 5.1+ with Nanite geometry streaming and Lumen lighting. Textures are physically-based (PBR) at up to 4096×4096px resolution.

The Fab Standard licence allows use in “any engine or tool”, including commercial projects, though users must still comply with Fab’s EULA.

About the maker

ScansMatter is a specialised 3D-asset provider and outsourcing studio, delivering premium modular environments, props, materials, and complete 3D scenes. Its work is aimed at real-time games, cinematics, advertising, architectural visualisation, and other content-driven industries.

The Fab listing for this Warehouse Environment highlights additional features: an advanced master material system with controls for surface variation, dust, and roughness; blueprint-based lighting; a fully playable demo scene; ray-traced plastic materials (toggleable); and full fallback support for non-Nanite or non-Lumen projects. Assets are modular, enabling flexible assembly through blueprints, and performance is documented, on an RTX 3090 the demo scene runs at roughly 40–50 fps. The package includes documentation and direct support via ScansMatter’s Discord server.

Why production artists might care

For environment artists, art directors, or anyone tasked with building an industrial backdrop in a hurry, the pack offers a ready-to-use, consistent set of assets that can be dropped straight into a scene or tweaked for custom layouts. The Nanite and Lumen setup ensures fidelity for both real-time and cinematic work, while the inclusion of blueprint-based lighting and modular building components makes scene iteration straightforward.

Performance optimisation and fallback compatibility mean the pack can slot into a range of hardware setups without excessive pipeline changes. The offer’s time-limit—free only until 26 August 2025—gives teams a short window to grab it before it returns to its standard Fab price.

A reminder before you roll in the forklifts

As with any third-party resource, review the Fab Standard licence carefully before deploying in production. Test assets thoroughly in your target pipeline to verify performance, compatibility, and visual match before committing them to a live project.

The post Cleaning out the studio back room? The ScansMatter warehouse kit might help first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In this article, we will compare the version control systems of Maya and Unreal, explore the key differences in file handling, and walk through a Git-based example using Anchorpoint.

As more animation studios adopt the Unreal Engine for real-time production, one question keeps coming up: “How do we handle version control?”. If you’re transitioning from a Maya-based pipeline, you’ve likely used Flow (formerly Shotgun/ Shotgrid) together with a custom scripted pipeline, to manage versions and asset updates. However, Unreal isn’t Maya. Things work differently, especially when you throw a versioning system like Git or Perforce into the mix.

Version control with Maya vs with Unreal

In Maya pipelines, version control is often tied to large binary .ma or .mb files. You can use Flow to publish versions and track approvals while using file-based versioning, like scene_v001.ma or scene_v002.ma.

• File type – .ma, .mb (binary, single file)
• Collaboration – one person per file
• Version history – manual incremental saving or DCC custom-built tools

In Unreal, things are more modular. Instead of saving one big file, you save individual assets. Unlike Maya, each asset (mesh, animation, blueprint, etc.) has its own file within a structured content folder. This changes how you handle versioning. You can make changes to a single material or animation sequence, and it becomes more realistic to work on the same project at once.

• File type – .uasset, .umap (many modular files)
• Locking – branching or exclusive checkout systems
• Collaboration – multiple people can work simultaneously
• Version history – commits with full history

The workflow similarities

Despite their differences, Maya and Unreal pipelines have similar high-level workflows:

1. Do your work – Animate, model, texture, whatever.
2. Publish or commit your changes – Push your version to the system.
3. Get feedback or review – Let your lead, TD, or director give notes.
4. Iterate and repeat – Make changes based on feedback.
   

This “create → publish → review” loop is fundamental in both worlds. What changes is how your tools support it.

The need of file locking or exclusive checkouts

Binary files like 3D models, animations, and Unreal Engine assets can’t be merged, so it’s crucial to use an exclusive checkout or file locking system to prevent conflicts. With file locking, only one person can work on a specific file at a time, and other team members can’t make changes until the file is committed or unlocked manually.

File distribution

In Maya, a shared folder is usually used, like a NAS (network-attached storage), which gives multiple users or devices on a network access to storage. In Unreal, though, files are stored on Git/ Perforce servers that handle all the versioning and sharing.

Example using Git

Git comes from the software development world, and developing a game is pretty similar to developing software in terms of workflow. The basic concepts are the same as in Perforce or any other version control system. If you want to work on an Unreal Engine project using Git as a version control system, you’ll need:

• A central remote server for your files (something like GitHub).
• A desktop app keeps track of all the file changes on your Unreal Engine project and then uploads and downloads the modified files to the server. It’ll also handle locking (or checking out) files, so no one works on the same file at the same time. An app like that could be Anchorpoint.

Here’s what a typical Unreal + Anchorpoint workflow might look like:

Step 1: Set up a Git repository for your project.

Initialize a Git repository in your Unreal project folder. Anchorpoint provides a UI for managing this process; no command line is necessary.

You can add an existing Unreal project to Git. A ‘repository’ is essentially your project folder containing all your files. To upload the files, you will need to connect the repository to a server. GitHub is one example of such a server.

Step 2: Pull the latest version before you start.

Before you start working, sync the latest version of the project. Anchorpoint will then download all the latest files to your project folder. This ensures that you are always working with the most up-to-date files.

You should do this at the beginning of each working day. A version control system makes this step explicit, unlike Dropbox which constantly syncs files.

Step 3: Work in Unreal.

Maybe you’re animating a character or adding a new sequence. Each time you make a change, it modifies the individual .uasset files within the Content folder. Anchorpoint automatically tracks all changes and newly added files. You don’t need to specify which file you want to modify beforehand.

Step 4: Commit and push.

This is similar to the publishing process you are familiar with from traditional VFX pipelines. It is important to communicate what you have done and ensure that everyone on your team has access to your work.

Once you’re finished,

• Open Anchorpoint.
• Select the files you changed.
• Add a message (e.g., “Updated run cycle for Ninja character”).
• Sync your work to the remote repository. In Git terms this is called commit and push.

Step 5: Review and branching

Another person will download your work (this is called ‘pulling’ in Git terms) and review and approve it. If changes are required, the whole process starts again.

Use Git branches for features or experiments that you do. For example:

• main: latest approved build
• shot_015_animation: your working branch.
• When you’re finished, merge back to the main branch.

Additionally, Anchorpoint offers an Unreal version control plugin that allows you to commit changes directly from Unreal, which can help speed up your work.

The Anchorpoint plugin for Unreal Engine

Further version control features

Version control systems like Git, have further options to manage your workflow, that you might have heard already.

Branching

Game developers use branches when working on or testing major features. These are copies of the code that you can work on at the same time as the main branch, where the main project is stored. You can merge them with the main branch when needed.

For example, if the main branch is “main,” a developer can create a feature branch, “feature,” and work on it at the same time. He can make changes to the feature branch until he merges it with the main project, making it accessible to everyone or ready for testing or release. On animation projects, branching is not something that is required. Work will be split up by sequences in Unreal Engine, which helps to manage shots.

Reverting to previous states

One perk of using a solid version control system is that you can always go back to a previous version of a file or reset the project whenever you need to. This can be tough, and sometimes it’s not even possible, just with saving a little bit at regular intervals.

Submodules

If you need to reuse components such as plugins or asset libraries across projects, you can use “submodules” in Git. These allow you to import a folder containing the plugin or library content into your project. They also provide better access controls because you can determine who has access to the folder. However, submodules increase the complexity of your workflow, so only use them where necessary.

Final thoughts

Unreal is changing the way animation pipelines work, and version control is a big part of this change. Maya uses a file-based approach that’s already well-established, but Unreal’s modular, real-time system needs a more flexible solution.

Tools like Anchorpoint help bridge the gap between creative and technical by making Git accessible to artists. Once you get past the learning curve, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. So, whether you’re switching pipelines or starting from scratch, don’t be afraid of Git. With the right tools and mindset, version control in Unreal can be powerful, efficient, and artist-friendly.

Want to know more about Anchorpoint?

Working in a team with Unreal Engine 5

The post Using Unreal Engine in animation pipelines: How to use version control first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Matthäus Niedoba.

Fab.com is giving away 110 modular dungeon-themed 3D assets and props for free, optimised for Unreal Engine use. The set comes courtesy of marketplace vendor HowardCoats, and is downloadable via the Fab.com product page. The package includes dungeon walls, floors, stairs, props like barrels and crates, and a few lighting fixtures, all stylized for a fantasy RPG look.

Features:
Seamless Wall Material – All wall pieces use the same tileable material enabling you to adjust the scale of the material or replace it with your own tileable material.
Modular – 67 modular pieces ensure you can create dungeons with endless varieties of layouts and scales.
Props – 50 high quality, well optimised props including a physics rigged skeleton.

Stylized Dungeon, Modular Build

The asset pack is designed for modular construction of dungeon environments. The style leans into fantasy stylisation rather than photorealism. The contents are tailored for level design in Unreal Engine, allowing users to snap together walls, floors, and other environment pieces for custom dungeon builds.

Unreal-Ready and Free

The assets are built for Unreal Engine, but Fab’s store system also allows for download in USD format. That means with a bit of manual setup, they could potentially be imported into other DCC apps or engines – although the files are primarily intended for Unreal workflows.

Price: free. The pack is available at no charge, though it requires a Fab.com account. Find the full product here on Fab before May 20th, 2025.

Production Use? Not So Fast

As always: freebies are great, but test thoroughly before integrating into production pipelines. There’s no mention of LODs (Level of Detail meshes), collision setup, or whether materials use Unreal-native shaders. Also unmentioned: lightmap UVs, texel density, or modular grid compatibility. If you’re planning to use these assets in real-time cinematics or VR pipelines, make sure they meet your scene optimisation standards.

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Want more free Fab.com content? Try this search on Digital Production.

The post Dungeon Assets for Free: Fab.com’s New Drop for Unreal first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Leartes Studios on Fab.com dropped some incredibly precise, plug-and-play modular workshop assets for Unreal Engine. If you love rapid-fire VFX, razor-sharp modelling, and lighting that makes pixels pop, this free bundle of 150 curated assets is about to become your new best friend.

Modular Mastery on the Fly

Every asset in this collection is engineered for seamless integration. Think of it as the ultimate toolkit for advanced CGI construction—whether you’re animating, rigging, or diving into complex shading routines. Forget cumbersome setups; these assets excel in delivering a stable, real-time rendering performance that’s as reliable as it is sleek.

Plug-and-Play Precision

Thanks to their modular design, these components fall into place with little fuss, making your workflow smoother than a perfectly rendered gradient. And for those who appreciate a bit more depth, check out this nifty listing on FAB.com which showcases a similar level of technical prowess and design finesse.

Caution: Test Before Production

While the assets are free and thoroughly engineered, remember that every innovation should be verified in your unique production environment before going full-throttle. A quick compatibility check goes a long way in ensuring that the stability and reliability you count on remain intact during those high-stakes production days.

Technical details

Features:

• 157 Unique Meshes
• Attention to Detail / AAA Quality
• All Building Assets are Modular
• Controllable parameters in Material Instances
• High Quality Assets
• Game ready/Optimized
• Unique Concepts of Assets
• High Attention to Details

Texture Size: 4096 for detailed Assets, 2048 for Mid sized Assets, & 1024 for small assets

Collision: Yes, Automatically Generated

LODs: Yes, 3 LODs for complex assets

Number of Meshes: 157 Unique Meshes

Number of Materials and Material Instances: 78

Number of Textures: 91

Supported Development Platforms: All Platforms

Supported Development Versions: Unreal Engine 4.27+ , UE5 , 5.1 , 5.2 , 5.3 , 5.4 , 5.5+

Compatibility

Supported Unreal Engine Versions

4.27 and 5.0 – 5.5

Supported Target Platforms: Mac, Nintendo Switch, Oculus, PS4, SteamVR / HTC Vive, Win32, Xbox One, Windows, Linux, iOS, HTML5, HoloLens 2, Gear VR, Android

The post Free Assets, High Tech – No splinters to be feared! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.