This release offers many new features, performance improvements, and new artist friendly tools, all wrapped up in a new look and feel for the Maya Interface.
Maya 2016 now leverages more resources (cores) in your machine to accelerate animation performance with the new Evaluation Manager. You can also use the Profiler tool to identify and fix performance bottlenecks.
The new Sculpting toolset allows modelers to sketch forms and shapes, create poses for blend-shapes, or perform terrain modeling quickly and easily.
More realistic VFX results are now possible with the addition of foam, surface tension, viscosity, and adaptive aerodynamics to Bifrost.
XGen enhancements such as multithreading and new preset capabilities make tasks such as hair grooms, vegetation, and instancing faster and easier to complete.
Building and editing materials in the Hypershade is now more artist friendly and intuitive through a revamped user interface optimized for look development workflows.