OTOY has released OctaneRender 2026.3, an update that extends the 2026 cycle of its GPU renderer. The most relevant change is that the virtual texture system, which allows working with large maps without saturating graphics memory, now also works in distributed network renders, a capability previously limited to the local machine.
Trace sets and less memory in the neural cache 🧠
The new version applies trace sets to shadow catchers, allowing specific objects to be ignored by these elements. Additionally, the Neural Radiance Cache (NRC) has reduced its memory consumption, optimizing denoising in complex scenes. On the other hand, support for MaterialX, the open standard for materials, has been expanded, facilitating asset exchange between different applications.
Now giant textures also travel over the network 🌐
The network virtual textures feature is a relief for those with a GPU with little memory, although the joke turns sour if your local connection is slower than a neighbor explaining their latest lighting project. Now you can saturate the RAM of all nodes in your farm instead of just your machine, because sharing is caring.