Epic Games releases Twinmotion 2026.1
Epic Games has released Twinmotion 2026.1, the latest version of its Unreal-Engine-based real-time visualisation software.
The update adds new tools for matching 3D models to photographic backplates, a light linking system, a new render effect for smoothing hard edges, and more camera and lens properties.
A real-time tool for 3D visualization and virtual production
Originally created by visualization studio KA-RA and acquired by Epic Games in 2019, Twinmotion is a real-time visualization tool for architectural, automotive and product design.
It is intended to be an easy way for non-graphics specialists – designers and architects – to create photorealistic renders of hero models created in other CAD or DCC applications.
After importing a model, users can dress the scene using a library of stock assets, adjust lighting and camera properties via simple slider controls, and apply readymade atmospheric effects.
A smaller update than other recent releases
Twinmotion 2026.1 is the first release since Epic Games’ recent – and swingeing – round of job cuts, and perhaps as a result, the changelog is shorter than in previous releases.
However, Epic has stuck to its guns on pricing: Twinmotion is still free to indie artists and studios with revenue under $1 million/year.
Twinmotion 2026.1: new tools for matching 3D models to photographic backplates
Changes in Twinmotion 2026.1 include a new set of tools for matching 3D models to photographic backplates.
The new Match perspective tool identifies the vanishing points in the backplate image, and adjusts the position and focal length of the camera in the 3D scene to match.
The backplate can also receive shadows cast from 3D objects in the scene, helping to integrate it visually.
Autosoft Edges automatically rounds hard edges in scenes
Other new features include Autosoft Edges, which rounds off unnaturally sharp edges in scenes.
It’s a render effect rather than a change to the actual scene geometry – presumably, it applies a bevel shader to the object selected – and the intensity can be controlled via a Radius slider.
Lighting Channels control which lights affect which objects in a scene
The update also introduces a new Lighting Channels feature.
It’s the equivalent of light linking in DCC applications, enabling artists to control which lights affect which 3D objects in a scene.
That makes it possible to sacrifice absolute physical accuracy in order to art direct a scene: for example, to prevent the product from being lit by background lighting in a visualization.
New camera and lens properties
New camera properties include an Auto Focus option for Depth of Field, which automatically adjusts the camera’s focal length to follow the center of the screen.
There are also new settings to mimic the Bokeh effects created by real-world anamorphic oval and Petzval lenses, and a new Barrel Distortion slider, mimicking real-world lens distortion.
Updates to the Twinmotion library
Twinmotion’s accompanying asset library gets 10 new tree species, and particle-based effects like fire, fog, smoke and water have been reworked to improve performance and visual quality.
The asset library also now has a persistent file location, rather than changing from version to version, avoiding the need to move assets when you update the software.
Price and system requirements
Twinmotion 2026.1 is compatible with Windows 10+ and macOS 13.5+.
Integration plugins are available for CAD and DCC apps including 3ds Max 2022+, CityEngine 2022.0+ and SketchUp Pro 2019+.
The software is free to users with gross annual revenue under $1 million/year. The free edition lacks access to Twinmotion Cloud, but is otherwise fully featured.
For larger studios, subscriptions cost $445/seat/year.
Read an overview of the new features in Twinmotion 2026.1 on Epic Games’ blog
Read a full list of new features in Twinmotion 2026.1 in the online changelog
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