Earlier in 2017, Microsoft acquired Simplygon, a company focused on creating tech for optimizing 3D models. Fast forward nearly eleven months later, and we're starting to see the first fruits of that acquisition.
Microsoft announced today that it is launching Simplygon Cloud in the Azure Marketplace. As an extension of Microsoft's efforts this year to make 3D accessible to everyone, seen in the Creators Update and more recently the launch of Windows Mixed Reality, Simplygon Cloud works to automatically reduce the complexity involved in creating 3D models through optimization. From Microsoft:
Historically, 3D asset optimization has taken days or weeks of manual effort and is one of the tasks that artists and developers dislike the most. With Simplygon, you can create 3D assets once – at full visual fidelity – and automatically optimize them to render smoothly on any platform – within minutes, saving valuable time and money.
In an example, Microsoft showed a couch originally rendered with 584,000 polygons could be optimized down to 5,000 polygons for lower GPU devices, maintaining fidelity while reducing the file size significantly.
The tool supports GLTF, FBX, and OBJ file types, Microsoft says. Supported rendering engines include Unity 3D and Unreal Engine. Simplygon also works with "all major mixed reality platforms," including Windows Mixed Reality, Android, and iOS.
Simplygon Cloud is now available in the Azure Marketplace, and you can get started with optimizing assets by deploying a Simplygon Cloud virtual machine from the Azure Marketplace home.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Is the RTX 3080 or the RX 6800 a better GPU for your next PC build?
Can't decide whether you should go with the NVIDIA RTX 3080 or the AMD RX 6800 for your next PC? We compare them to help you make the right choice.
Surface Laptop 4 specs leak online ahead of its announcement
Leaks recently emerged with specs for the Surface Laptop 4. The leaks include the processors that it will run, the sizes it will come in, and other aspects of the device.
Review: Acer's Predator X38 is the ultimate monitor for work and gaming
Acer's Predator X38 is a massive ultrawide monitor fast enough for high-end gaming and accurate enough for color-sensitive work. It's the ultimate package, but it doesn't come cheap.
Complete list of apps supported by NVIDIA RTX Voice
NVIDIA RTX Voice can remove the background noise from your streams, voice chats, and video conferences. Here are all the Windows apps with official NVIDIA RTX Voice support.