The End of an Era: Autodesk's Decision to Discontinue Support for Softimage 3D 2018

As we bid farewell to another industry giant, Autodesk has announced its plans to discontinue support services for Softimage 3D 2018. This decision marks the end of an era for the iconic software, which has been a staple in the media and entertainment industry for many years.

Autodesk's commitment to providing support and maintenance services for Softimage customers with active Subscription contracts will continue until the end of their contract or April 30, 2016, whichever comes first. However, it's important to note that after this transition period, customers will no longer be able to purchase new licenses or rental plans for Softimage.

In a bid to ease the transition, Autodesk has introduced two new offerings: Maya with Softimage and 3ds Max with Softimage. These transition products can be purchased as standalone licenses, allowing customers to continue using Softimage while also gaining access to the latest features and tools from Autodesk's other popular software packages.

For customers currently on Autodesk Subscription, there will be options to migrate to these new offerings at no additional cost. This means that subscribers can upgrade to either Maya or 3ds Max without incurring any extra fees, providing a seamless transition into the future.

Softimage 2015 will be the final version of the software, with no further updates or releases planned. While this may cause inconvenience for some users, Autodesk is confident that its new transition products will offer attractive alternatives and provide customers with better products and faster development cycles.

In recognition of the impact this decision may have on its loyal customer base, Autodesk has also announced a range of support services to help users adapt to the change. These services include hot fixes and service packs for all Softimage customers with Autodesk Subscription, as well as product support until April 30, 2016.

While it's difficult to say goodbye to a beloved software package like Softimage, Autodesk's decision to discontinue support is likely driven by its desire to focus development efforts on its other products. By doing so, the company aims to provide customers with better products and faster development cycles, ultimately benefiting the media and entertainment industry as a whole.

As users begin to re-evaluate their production capabilities and explore new options, Autodesk's commitment to supporting its customers during this transition period is reassuring. With options available until February 1, 2016, there's still time for Softimage users to migrate to either Maya or 3ds Max and take advantage of the benefits these new products offer.

In conclusion, while the end of Softimage support marks a significant change for the industry, Autodesk's transition plans and support services aim to ease this transition and provide customers with attractive alternatives. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see how users adapt to these changes and what new opportunities emerge in the world of 3D animation and visual effects.

Softimage 3d 2018