Free tools: Unreal Live Link 2.1 for Maya is out
Autodesk’s original demo of Unreal Live Link for Maya, the pair of free plugins linking Maya to Unreal Engine. Version 2.1 of the softwarwe has just been released.
Autodesk and Epic Games have released Unreal Live Link 2.1 for Maya, the latest version of the free pair of plugins live-linking Autodesk’s Maya animation software and Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.
The update adds new asset filtering capabilities, support for more camera properties, and the option to save Live Link settings as part of a Maya scene file.
Stream animation data from Maya to Unreal Engine and see changes in real time
Originally developed by Epic Games, and previously known as the Maya Live Link, Unreal Live Link for Maya streams data between the two applications in real time.
The link consists of separate Maya and Unreal Engine plugins that work in tandem, with changes made in one application automatically transferred to the other, speeding up the process of previewing animations.
The link also streams timecode data, making it possible to synchronise the play heads in Maya and Unreal, enabling users to scrub through the timelines of both applications simultaneously.
Collectively, the plugins let users stream animation data to the game engine for rendering as part of game development, previs or virtual production workflows.
Unreal Live Link for Maya 2.1: new asset filtering capabilities, and support for more camera attributes
The 2.1 update adds new asset filtering capabilities, making it possible to find only Unreal Engine assets or sequences matching search text, or related to the Unreal skeleton selected.
In addition, it is now possible to transfer more camera attributes between the two applications, including the Aperture and Focal Length settings of Unreal Engine’s Cinecamera Actors and Camera Actors.
Users can also now save Live Link settings in Maya scene files.
Also new in the 2.x updates: single unified installer, and the option to pause animation streams
Since we originally wrote about the software, the installation process has been simplified, with the Unreal Live Link 2.0 for Maya release introducing a single installer for both plugins.
Other new features include the option to author Unreal assets – including Blueprint instances, lights, cameras, and level and animation sequences – directly inside the Maya UI.
It is also now possible to pause while streaming data.
Pricing and system requirements
Unreal Live Link 2.1 for Maya is compatible with Maya 2020+ on Windows and Linux. It’s a free download.
The GitHub release notes says that version 2.1 is only compatible with the upcoming Unreal Engine 5.1, while the Autodesk App Store listing says that it’s compatible with Unreal Engine 5.0.
Version 1.1.1 of the plugin, still also available for download, is compatible with Unreal Engine 4.27.
Download the free Unreal Live Link for Maya from Autodesk’s App Store
Read more about Unreal Live Link for Maya in the online documentation