What's New in 3ds Max 2025

Welcome to 3ds Max 2025! You can download the 3ds Max 2025 from your Autodesk Account. You can also can get updated versions for previous releases of 3ds Max through this account portal.

Read on to learn about the new features and updated workflows you'll find in this release. For technical details including What's Fixed, please see the 3ds Max 2025 Release Notes.

For more on the evolution of 3ds Max over the years, check out the 3ds Max timeline on Autodesk Area.

OCIO Color Management

OpenColorIO is the now default mode for color management in new scenes. This makes it easier than ever to implement a modern color pipeline.

Updated Global Search feature

The global search has been modernized to provide expanded functionality such as displaying the last 5 used items, extended results with toolclips, double clicking to enact commands and ability to dock the search window.

Retopology Tools for 3ds Max 1.5

The updated Retopology Tools for 3ds Max introduces preprocessing and OpenVDB remeshing as stand-alone processes alongside improvements to processing time when using Autodesk ReForm.

Menu Editor

3ds Max has a new Menu Editor as part of its new menu customization system.

USD for 3ds Max 0.7 Plug-in

Updated Universal Scene Description (USD) plug-in allows artists to import animations, including animated light and camera, as well as blendShape.

Arnold for 3ds Max 5.7.0.0

3ds Max 2025 includes MAXtoA 5.7.0.0

What else is new?

This release of 3ds Max also includes the following changes and improvements.

CAT improvements	Multiple functionality and stability improvements have been added to CAT (Character Animation Toolkit) to improve animation workflows, address long-standing issues and customer suggestions. The following are some of the updates addressed by this release: Stability fixes when deleting CAT objects, working with Wire Parameters, using CAT bone twist weights, among others. Copy/paste of CAT layers now working correctly with Extraction mode. Improved stability and resolved Viewport refresh and locking issues around saving or loading CAT data, notably while working with the Motion Panel and Abs layers. Addressed issues where CAT scenes did not load due to loop references. Improved handling of empty Anim Layers, preventing unnecessary slowdowns with merged or XRefed scenes to existing scenes. Addressed various stability problems with the CAT Layer Manager. Improved experience when cloning CAT Helper objects when using Shift + Move, so there are no longer problems with unexpected offsets, duplicate naming or undo issues. For a complete list of improvements, visit the Animation section of the 3ds Max 2025 Release Notes.
Assign Controller arrow navigation fix	You can now correctly navigate the Assign Controllers Rollout using arrow keys. Previously, using the arrow keys to move through the Controller list would sometimes trigger a crash.
Corrected List Controller scaling issues	The List Controller floating dialog size has been adjusted so that the controls are no longer squeezed with different window scaling.
New File > Save Incremental option (+)	By popular demand, a Save Incremental (+) option has been added to the File menu to let you save incremental copies of your scenes to create a history of your work process.
OpenSubdiv modifier improvements	The OpenSubdiv modifier has been updated to version 3.6, which provides faster results and makes the OpenSubdiv tool compliant with the VFX Reference Standard.
Mesh Cleaner modifier improvements	The Mesh Cleaner modifier has been updated to introduce new options for cleanup such as zero area UV, non-planar faces and isolated vertices.
Viewport shadows	The default size limit for shadow maps in the viewport has been increased from 512 to 4096. This value is stored in the 3dsmax.ini file, and persists across 3ds Max sessions.
Slate Material Editor	You can quickly open a View Image File window by right-clicking on a Bitmap node in the Slate Material Editor and selecting View Image.