Maxon has released the Redshift 2026.5 update. This release solidifies OpenPBR as the material standard for Cinema 4D users, a move that anticipates its adoption on other platforms. The version expands displacement capabilities, adds a procedural night sky for all licenses, and, most notably, introduces native support for emerging hardware, including AMD GPUs with hardware ray tracing and ARM CPUs on Windows.
Advances in Hardware and Material Standardization 🚀
Technically, the update is significant on two fronts. On one hand, the integration of HIP RT for AMD GPUs enables hardware ray tracing, an experimental feature that promises greater performance. On the other, support for Windows on ARM allows running Redshift on CPU in devices like Copilot+ PCs. Furthermore, the Texture Displacement system now handles UDIM and geometry without UVs, while OpenPBR is established as the default material, aiming for uniformity in the workflow.
No More Excuses for Not Rendering at Night 🌙
With the procedural night sky now available in all editions, those forced daytime renders due to license limitations are over. Now any scene can have its starry sky, ideal for gothic projects or for when you're simply working in the early hours. A poetic touch for software that otherwise focuses on harsh technical realities like ARM support. Perhaps the next step will be a procedural sun for the basic editions, completing the 3D artist's circadian cycle.