Unigine has released SDK version 2.20, and if you think “Gaussian Splatting” sounds messy, you’re right—but it’s also the latest tool for high-fidelity point-cloud rendering, now available for simulation and engineering users. But Unigine 2.20 doesn’t stop there: the update delivers a raft of rendering, workflow, performance, and VR/XR enhancements, all thoroughly documented in Unigine’s official release notes and developer log.

Gaussian Splatting: For the Brave and the Enterprise

Users of the Engineering and Sim SDKs (that’s the not-free tiers) can now import and render .ply point cloud data as 3D Gaussian splats—an experimental plugin that comes with its own sample scene and setup tools. If your idea of fun is high-density reality capture, now you can splat with the best. Blender, Unreal, Unity, and V-Ray have all jumped on this bus; Unigine keeps pace for serious enterprise workflows.

Visual UI Toolkit: Drag, Drop, Repeat

Tired of gluing together UI code in the dark? Unigine 2.20 introduces a visual UI Designer and Runtime Editor: assemble widgets in a WYSIWYG environment, snap to grid, undo your mistakes, all with live preview and JSON-based layouts. The new UI system is fully scriptable, supports runtime debugging, and bundles a widget set that covers everything from buttons and sliders to tables and containers. No more hunting for missing pixels.

Rendering Pipeline: Smoother, Sharper, Faster

On the rendering front, Unigine 2.20 brings Vulkan-based DLSS support and updates AMD FSR upscaling to 3.1.3 on both Windows and Linux. Octahedral impostors (think: sharper distant billboards), improved voxel probes for subsurface and scattering, new global illumination controls, and sharper image effects all land in this release. The Agility SDK integration lets developers access the latest DX12 features even on Windows 10—if you still have to.

Multithreaded Shadows and Lighting: Shadows in a Hurry

DirectX 12 users will see multithreaded shadow rendering—up to 3x CPU performance gain in dense lighting scenarios. Shadows, projectors, and omni lights all move to mesh-based rendering for smarter culling and throughput. If you spend your day staring at scene graph bottlenecks, it’s time to reboot.

Performance and Memory: The Never-Ending Quest

Mesh compression now brings smaller binary clusters, with load/save times improved by up to 20%. The memory allocator has been rebuilt for lower VRAM spikes, and terrain clutter/grass intersection is now ten times faster. RAM/VRAM footprints shrink across particles, billboards, and visualizers. Startup and global resource loading are also noticeably speedier.

VR/XR: Real-World, Real-Time, Ready

XR users get eye-tracking, dynamic foveated rendering, and mixed-reality passthrough for Meta Quest 3 and Varjo XR-3. Hand tracking, per-eye camera offsets, better HMD emulation, and adaptive exposure mean VR workflows aren’t left in the 2020s. The input system, device compatibility, and sample scenes all see updates. Passthrough mode for MR is finally stable enough for the show floor (your mileage may vary).

Editor, API, and Scripting: Fixes, Tweaks, and More Power

Unigine Editor gets a search overhaul, property panel speedup (5x faster), shadow baking that no longer tests your patience (up to 17x), improved window layout persistence, and better graph tools. The C# component workflow now supports interfaces, abstract classes, named access, and external libraries—good news for pipeline maintainers. Expect dozens of bug fixes, small usability upgrades, and a more stable scripting environment overall.

Terrain, Samples, Docs, and the Rest

Sandworm (terrain tool) gets memory and speed improvements, SpiderVision picks up line rendering, and the IG module adds CIGI packet support. C++ and C# sample code is now up-to-date on GitHub. Documentation, VR/MR/hand-tracking guides, API migration notes, and new video HowTos round out the update.

Platform and Pricing

Unigine 2.20 runs on Windows 10+ and Linux 4.19+, 64-bit only. The Community (Free) SDK remains free for non-commercial or sub-$100K projects; Community Pro costs $1,500/year. Engineering and Sim SDK pricing is available on request.

All innovations should be tested in non-critical environments before rolling into production—bleeding edge, after all, is still called bleeding for a reason. UNIGINE Devlog: 2.20 Release

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The post Unigine 2.20: Now with More Splat and a Whole Lot Else first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In the ever-evolving world of 3D, efficiency is key. Enter Assetify, the Blender add-on designed to catapult your assets from the confines of your .blend files into the vast universe of game engines, rendering platforms, VR/AR applications, and even 3D printing. And it does so with the grace of a seasoned ballet dancer—minus the tutu.

Automated Texture Baking

Remember the days of manual texture baking? Neither do we, thanks to Assetify. This tool automates the baking of diffuse, roughness, metallic, normal, and alpha textures, ensuring your assets are dressed to impress. With presets tailored for Unreal Engine 5 and Unity, Assetify packs textures just the way these platforms like them. Whether you’re consolidating multiple materials into a single texture package for performance gains or keeping them separate for custom resolutions, Assetify has you covered. It’s like having a personal chef who knows exactly how you like your eggs—over easy, with a side of optimization.

Multi-Format Exporting

Diversity is the spice of life, and Assetify serves up a smorgasbord of export options:

• FBX: The go-to format for most 3D software and game engines, including Unreal Engine and Unity.
• OBJ: The universal translator of 3D applications and VR/AR platforms, perfect for rendering or archiving.
• GLTF/GLB: The sleek, modern standard for web-based 3D applications and AR/VR experiences.
• STL: The trusty companion for all your 3D printing adventures.

With Assetify, your assets are always ready for the next big thing, be it a game, a virtual tour, or a 3D-printed masterpiece.

Collection Management

Managing assets can sometimes feel like herding cats. Assetify brings order to the chaos with its robust collection management features. Process entire collections, maintain hierarchies, and bake/export assets with a few swift clicks. Toggle between Asset Mode for individual items and Collection Mode for grouped workflows, giving you the flexibility to handle projects of any scale. It’s asset management so smooth, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

UV Unwrapping

UV unwrapping can be as enjoyable as untangling holiday lights. Fortunately, Assetify automates the creation and packing of basic UV maps, ensuring efficient texture mapping without the usual headaches. Whether you’re working with static models or complex procedural setups, Assetify’s UV unwrapping has your back, saving you hours of tedious labor. Now you can spend more time creating and less time wrestling with UVs.

Geometry Nodes Support

Procedural assets are all the rage, and Assetify is fully on board. It seamlessly integrates with geometry nodes, allowing you to bake and export even the most intricate setups into game-ready formats. As long as you’re using a principled BSDF as an output, Assetify handles any procedural configuration with ease. Focus on your creative process, and let Assetify take care of the technical heavy lifting.

Pricing

Quality tools often come with a price tag, but Assetify offers a range of options to suit various needs:

• Individual License: $34.99
• Studio License (2-5 seats): $69.99
• Studio License (5-10 seats): $129.99
• Studio License (10+ seats): $199.99

Investing in Assetify is like buying time—and who couldn’t use more of that?

Note: As with any new tool, it’s advisable to test Assetify’s features on non-critical projects to ensure compatibility and performance before integrating it into your primary workflow.

Assetify on Blender Market

• DefoQ’s Creator Page

For a visual demonstration of Assetify’s capabilities, check out the video demo available on the Assetify product page.

The post Assetify v.2: Turning Blender Assets into Game-Ready Gold first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.