On the first update for 3ds Max 2026 we got 3 new modifiers. If you want to see a video with the news on max 2026.1 with multiple examples check my Patreon:
Attribute transfer is totally new, it allows to move geometry data from one object to another by proximity. Material IDs, Position, Normals, uvws, vertex color,… with different options to do it from a reference object or in the case of normals from the direction of each vertex to the pivot point. Allow options for closest vertex point and others. Is using embree v4 technology to make it really fast.
Push modifier is an old modifier in 3ds Max that has been totally rebuild, now with way better performance operating over polygons, a way to relax the mesh over the push, added iterations to add pushes that work in steps, so you can inflate the geometry other than just move it along the normals in one step, added collisions, so the push will stop happening when it detects the selected geometry, allowing for new procedural workflows in modeling and animation. Also added a way to multiply the push influence in x, y and z.
Xform, another very old modifier that received a totally overhaul, making it now a very robust modifier. Other than the only gizmo control we had until now, xform can operate with numerical inputs for move, rotate, scale, both world based and local based, Neutralize Transform in Gizmo mode allows you to easily reset transformations relative to another object’s world space—great for simulations. New Align to Object option in Gizmo mode lets you align and link the gizmo to any object. This new modifier allow now for so much new ways to do things in 3ds max!
We had a new USD as its usual, now You can promote a USD geometry to a 3ds Max object to work with it using native 3ds Max tools. added support for the OpenPBR material in the USD Exporter. Have the option to export top hierarchy objects in World space within the USD Exporter, and more stuff.
Arnold received some improvements with faster initialization, and enhancements to the USD rendering.
And in max different improvements on Optimize spline modifier, now includes a new “Colinear Knots” reduction method. Now supports animated parameters for both “By Percentage” and “By Maximum” methods. Normalize spline modifier also has animatable parameters.
Multiple updates on the skin modifier for faster performance, and now loading objects with skin applied with take up to 20 times less time to load.
Different fixes across max, maybe the most remarkable is that an issue where the Assign Material to Selection button in the SME did not always work for new materials now is fixed.
For the 3ds Max list, check it HERE
For Changsoo Eun unoficial list with even more stuff, check it HERE