Maxon: Difference between revisions

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{{#seo:description=Maxon eliminates perpetual licenses for acquired products including ZBrush, Red Giant, and Forger, forcing subscriptions and locking users out of proprietary files.}}

{{CompanyCargo

|Founded=1985

|Industry=Software,3D Modeling,Animation,Visual Effects

|Logo=

|Logo=Maxon.png

|ParentCompany=Nemetschek Group

|CompanyAlias=Maxon Computer GmbH

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|Description=Eliminates perpetual licenses for acquired products and forces subscriptions; discontinued Forger app, locking users out of proprietary files.

}}

'''Maxon''' discontinued the iPad sculpting app [[Forger]] in September 2025, leaving subscribers unable to export proprietary files when subscriptions lapsed.<ref name="forger-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/07/maxon-discontinues-forger/ |title=Maxon discontinues Forger |date=2025-07-06 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="forger-manual">{{Cite web |url=https://learn.forger.app/ios-manual/licensing/ |title=Licensing - Forger Manual |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> The company has also eliminated perpetual licenses for [[ZBrush]] and [[Red Giant]], moving both to subscription-only models.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2023/11/maxon-releases-zbrush-2024/ |title=Maxon releases ZBrush 2024 |date=2023-11-16 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="redgiant-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/09/maxon-ends-perpetual-licences-of-red-giant-products/ |title=Maxon ends perpetual licences of Red Giant products |date=2021-09-17 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref>

'''Maxon''' discontinued the iPad sculpting app [[Forger]] in September 2025, leaving subscribers unable to export proprietary files when subscriptions lapsed.<ref name="forger-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/07/maxon-discontinues-forger/ |title=Maxon discontinues Forger |date=2025-07 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="forger-manual">{{Cite web |url=https://learn.forger.app/ios-manual/licensing/ |title=Licensing - Forger Manual |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> The company has also eliminated perpetual licenses for [[ZBrush]] and [[Red Giant]], moving both to subscription-only models.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2023/11/maxon-releases-zbrush-2024/ |title=Maxon releases ZBrush 2024 |date=2023-11-16 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="redgiant-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/09/maxon-ends-perpetual-licences-of-red-giant-products/ |title=Maxon ends perpetual licences of Red Giant products |date=2021-09-17 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref>

== Consumer-impact summary ==

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{{Main|Maxon Forger discontinuation and subscription file lockout}}

Maxon acquired Forger, an iPad sculpting app originally released in 2011, in March 2021.<ref name="forger-acquisition-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/03/maxon-acquires-forger/ |title=Maxon acquires forger |date=2021-03 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> On September 10, 2025, Maxon placed Forger into what it termed "limited maintenance mode." The app was removed from the App Store, and no new updates or bug fixes were released.<ref name="forger-maxon">{{Cite web |url=https://www.maxon.net/en/article/forger-entering-limited-maintenance-mode |title=Forger Entering Limited Maintenance Mode |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> Existing subscribers could continue using the app until the end of their current subscription term, but could not renew after September 10, 2025.<ref name="forger-maxon" />

Maxon acquired Forger, an iPad sculpting app originally released in 2011, in March 2021.<ref name="forger-acquisition-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/03/maxon-acquires-forger/ |title=Maxon acquires forger |date=2021-03-09 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> On September 10, 2025, Maxon placed Forger into what it termed "limited maintenance mode." The app was removed from the App Store, and no new updates or bug fixes were released.<ref name="forger-maxon">{{Cite web |url=https://www.maxon.net/en/article/forger-entering-limited-maintenance-mode |title=Forger Entering Limited Maintenance Mode |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> Existing subscribers could continue using the app until the end of their current subscription term, but could not renew after September 10, 2025.<ref name="forger-maxon" />

The free version of Forger imposed a three-document save limit and disabled all exporting, including sending files to Cinema 4D. According to Maxon's own documentation, files saved while a subscription was active could be opened in the free version, but could not be saved or exported.<ref name="forger-manual" /> Forger's native file format was not supported in ZBrush for iPad, the replacement Maxon recommended. Users who did not export their work in .goz or .obj format before their subscription expired would be unable to open their Forger files in ZBrush for iPad or export them to other formats.<ref name="forger-faq" />

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In November 2023, Maxon released ZBrush 2024. The release was available exclusively via subscription. Perpetual licenses were no longer offered for the new version, and holders of existing perpetual licenses could not upgrade to ZBrush 2024.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel" /> Subscription pricing was set at $39 per month or $359 per year.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel" /> New features introduced in ZBrush 2024, including the Repeat to Similar system and Cinema 4D noise integrations, were available only to subscribers.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel" />

=== Red Giant ~~perpetual license discontinuation~~ ===

=== Discontinuation of sale of perpetual licenses for Red Giant ===

Maxon merged with Red Giant, a developer of visual effects and color grading plugins. The merger added Trapcode Suite, VFX Suite, Magic Bullet Suite, Universe, and PluralEyes to Maxon's product portfolio.<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" />

In September 2021, Maxon discontinued perpetual licenses for Trapcode Suite, VFX Suite, and Magic Bullet Suite without advance announcement. CG Channel reported that the change was only apparent when perpetual license purchase options vanished from the Maxon online store. When contacted, Maxon confirmed that it had "decided to not offer a perpetual version of the individual suites."<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" /> Perpetual licenses of the previous versions remained available for $999, but the latest versions were accessible only via Red Giant Complete subscriptions at $79 per month or $599 per year, or via Maxon One subscriptions at $149 per month or $1,199 per year.<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" />

In September 2021, Maxon discontinued the sale of perpetual licenses for Trapcode Suite, VFX Suite, and Magic Bullet Suite without advance announcement. CG Channel reported that the change was only apparent when perpetual license purchase options vanished from the Maxon online store. When contacted, Maxon confirmed that it had "decided to not offer a perpetual version of the individual suites."<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" /> Perpetual licenses of the previous versions remained available for $999, but the latest versions were accessible only via Red Giant Complete subscriptions at $79 per month or $599 per year, or via Maxon One subscriptions at $149 per month or $1,199 per year.<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" />

== Products ==

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[[Category:Maxon]]

~~[[Category:Software Companies]]~~

~~[[Category:Subscription Licensing]]~~

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{#seo:description=Maxon eliminates perpetual licenses for acquired products including ZBrush, Red Giant, and Forger, forcing subscriptions and locking users out of proprietary files.}}
 {{CompanyCargo
 |Founded=1985
 |Industry=Software,3D Modeling,Animation,Visual Effects
-|Logo=
+|Logo=Maxon.png
 |ParentCompany=Nemetschek Group
 |CompanyAlias=Maxon Computer GmbH
@@ Line 11: / Line 10: @@
 |Description=Eliminates perpetual licenses for acquired products and forces subscriptions; discontinued Forger app, locking users out of proprietary files.
 }}
+'''Maxon''' discontinued the iPad sculpting app [[Forger]] in September 2025, leaving subscribers unable to export proprietary files when subscriptions lapsed.<ref name="forger-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/07/maxon-discontinues-forger/ |title=Maxon discontinues Forger |date=2025-07-06 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="forger-manual">{{Cite web |url=https://learn.forger.app/ios-manual/licensing/ |title=Licensing - Forger Manual |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> The company has also eliminated perpetual licenses for [[ZBrush]] and [[Red Giant]], moving both to subscription-only models.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2023/11/maxon-releases-zbrush-2024/ |title=Maxon releases ZBrush 2024 |date=2023-11-16 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="redgiant-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/09/maxon-ends-perpetual-licences-of-red-giant-products/ |title=Maxon ends perpetual licences of Red Giant products |date=2021-09-17 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref>
-'''Maxon''' discontinued the iPad sculpting app [[Forger]] in September 2025, leaving subscribers unable to export proprietary files when subscriptions lapsed.<ref name="forger-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/07/maxon-discontinues-forger/ |title=Maxon discontinues Forger |date=2025-07 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="forger-manual">{{Cite web |url=https://learn.forger.app/ios-manual/licensing/ |title=Licensing - Forger Manual |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> The company has also eliminated perpetual licenses for [[ZBrush]] and [[Red Giant]], moving both to subscription-only models.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2023/11/maxon-releases-zbrush-2024/ |title=Maxon releases ZBrush 2024 |date=2023-11-16 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref><ref name="redgiant-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/09/maxon-ends-perpetual-licences-of-red-giant-products/ |title=Maxon ends perpetual licences of Red Giant products |date=2021-09-17 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref>
 == Consumer-impact summary ==
@@ Line 24: / Line 22: @@
 {{Main|Maxon Forger discontinuation and subscription file lockout}}
-Maxon acquired Forger, an iPad sculpting app originally released in 2011, in March 2021.<ref name="forger-acquisition-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/03/maxon-acquires-forger/ |title=Maxon acquires forger |date=2021-03 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> On September 10, 2025, Maxon placed Forger into what it termed "limited maintenance mode." The app was removed from the App Store, and no new updates or bug fixes were released.<ref name="forger-maxon">{{Cite web |url=https://www.maxon.net/en/article/forger-entering-limited-maintenance-mode |title=Forger Entering Limited Maintenance Mode |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> Existing subscribers could continue using the app until the end of their current subscription term, but could not renew after September 10, 2025.<ref name="forger-maxon" />
+Maxon acquired Forger, an iPad sculpting app originally released in 2011, in March 2021.<ref name="forger-acquisition-cgchannel">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2021/03/maxon-acquires-forger/ |title=Maxon acquires forger |date=2021-03-09 |website=CG Channel |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> On September 10, 2025, Maxon placed Forger into what it termed "limited maintenance mode." The app was removed from the App Store, and no new updates or bug fixes were released.<ref name="forger-maxon">{{Cite web |url=https://www.maxon.net/en/article/forger-entering-limited-maintenance-mode |title=Forger Entering Limited Maintenance Mode |website=Maxon |access-date=2026-05-13}}</ref> Existing subscribers could continue using the app until the end of their current subscription term, but could not renew after September 10, 2025.<ref name="forger-maxon" />
 The free version of Forger imposed a three-document save limit and disabled all exporting, including sending files to Cinema 4D. According to Maxon's own documentation, files saved while a subscription was active could be opened in the free version, but could not be saved or exported.<ref name="forger-manual" /> Forger's native file format was not supported in ZBrush for iPad, the replacement Maxon recommended. Users who did not export their work in .goz or .obj format before their subscription expired would be unable to open their Forger files in ZBrush for iPad or export them to other formats.<ref name="forger-faq" />
@@ Line 36: / Line 34: @@
 In November 2023, Maxon released ZBrush 2024. The release was available exclusively via subscription. Perpetual licenses were no longer offered for the new version, and holders of existing perpetual licenses could not upgrade to ZBrush 2024.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel" /> Subscription pricing was set at $39 per month or $359 per year.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel" /> New features introduced in ZBrush 2024, including the Repeat to Similar system and Cinema 4D noise integrations, were available only to subscribers.<ref name="zbrush2024-cgchannel" />
-=== Red Giant perpetual license discontinuation ===
+=== Discontinuation of sale of perpetual licenses for Red Giant ===
 Maxon merged with Red Giant, a developer of visual effects and color grading plugins. The merger added Trapcode Suite, VFX Suite, Magic Bullet Suite, Universe, and PluralEyes to Maxon's product portfolio.<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" />
-In September 2021, Maxon discontinued perpetual licenses for Trapcode Suite, VFX Suite, and Magic Bullet Suite without advance announcement. CG Channel reported that the change was only apparent when perpetual license purchase options vanished from the Maxon online store. When contacted, Maxon confirmed that it had "decided to not offer a perpetual version of the individual suites."<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" /> Perpetual licenses of the previous versions remained available for $999, but the latest versions were accessible only via Red Giant Complete subscriptions at $79 per month or $599 per year, or via Maxon One subscriptions at $149 per month or $1,199 per year.<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" />
+In September 2021, Maxon discontinued the sale of perpetual licenses for Trapcode Suite, VFX Suite, and Magic Bullet Suite without advance announcement. CG Channel reported that the change was only apparent when perpetual license purchase options vanished from the Maxon online store. When contacted, Maxon confirmed that it had "decided to not offer a perpetual version of the individual suites."<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" /> Perpetual licenses of the previous versions remained available for $999, but the latest versions were accessible only via Red Giant Complete subscriptions at $79 per month or $599 per year, or via Maxon One subscriptions at $149 per month or $1,199 per year.<ref name="redgiant-cgchannel" />
 == Products ==
@@ Line 60: / Line 58: @@
 [[Category:Maxon]]
-[[Category:Software Companies]]
-[[Category:Subscription Licensing]]