Blender Foundation launched Blender 4.3 on December 3, 2024, and it’s rocking the 3D scene. This free update, out on blender.org, snagged attention from Creative Bloq and CG Channel for its animation upgrades and real-time rendering power, boosting open-source cred for pros and indies alike.
“Blender 4.3 gives artists powerful tools to work faster and more freely.”
Ton Roosendaal, Blender Foundation Chairman
Power Unleashed
Blender 4.3 revamps Animation Layers, stacking complex character moves for smoother workflows—great for animators. Eevee Next now rocks ray tracing, pumping out cinematic 3D visuals in real time, while GPU boosts speed up rendering and rigging tweaks. It’s catching on with indie creators eyeing virtual production, nipping at Maya’s heels.
The real-time renderer EEVEE now supports Light Linking and Shadow Linking:
Pushing the Limits
Beyond animation, 4.3’s got teeth for bigger fights. Its OpenUSD support streamlines 3D pipelines, letting studios swap assets with tools like Houdini or Unreal Engine. New sculpting brushes and a beefier geometry nodes system make it a Swiss Army knife for design, animation, and VP prep—all free, all in one package.
It’s also now effortless to create iterations of your elements, making repetitive processes a breeze to handle.
Industry Buzz
This drop’s making noise—Creative Bloq calls it “a massive step for indie artists.” Studios are testing its real-time chops, and its robust, no-cost toolkit is shifting the game, hinting at a 2025 where Blender leads accessible, high-end 3D creation.
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