Maxon Bids Farewell to ZBrush "Mini" Versions
In a move that has left more than one digital artist scratching their head 🤔, Maxon has announced that ZBrushCore and ZBrushCoreMini will no longer be available. Starting May 30, 2025, these reduced versions of the famous 3D sculpting software will pass into better life... or at least into forced retirement.
"They were like training wheels for digital sculpting: useful to start, but uncomfortable when you wanted to fly."
A Brief History of the Budget Versions
ZBrushCore appeared in 2016 as the little brother of the powerful ZBrush, ideal for beginners and those who didn't need all the advanced features. Then, in 2020, ZBrushCoreMini arrived, an even lighter and free version 🎁. However, after Maxon's acquisition of Pixologic in 2022, these editions took a backseat.
- 2016: ZBrushCore is born, the "ZBrush for the poor" (said with affection).
- 2020: ZBrushCoreMini arrives, so light it almost floats.
- 2022: Maxon acquires Pixologic and the Core versions take a secondary role.
- 2025: Their discontinuation is announced, leaving novices searching for alternatives.
What Now? The Promise of a New Freemium Model
Maxon has mentioned that it is working on a new desktop freemium version that will supposedly unify the experience across devices. In the meantime, current ZBrushCore users will be able to continue renewing their subscriptions until September 2025. Will this new option be as good as it sounds? Time will tell... or not. 😅
The irony is that, after years of offering free versions for beginners, they now withdraw them just before launching another free option. It's like your swimming teacher taking away your floatie one day before teaching you to swim. 🏊♂️
The Future of Digital Sculpting
ZBrush remains the undisputed king in its field, but this move by Maxon could lead some novice artists to explore other alternatives, like Blender or even the iPad version. In the end, the important thing is to keep sculpting, even with your nails if necessary. Good luck to all digital artists in this transition! And remember: in the 3D world, the only constant is eternal rendering. ⏳
P.S.: If Maxon promises a freemium version "soon," prepare for a wait as long as an 8K render on a 90s computer. 😂