Maya software renderer broken?

[pdurette]

Is Autodesk no longer supporting the Maya Software renderer? Starting with 2025, there are all sorts of broken items. On my PC light linking and light fog don't work. In 2026, adding a spotlight On my Mac, I can't even get a render, just a black screen. I have been teaching Maya for over 20 years, so it is not noob errors.

Do I need to teach the software using Arnold from the start? I prefer to wait until students have a basic knowledge of rendering before getting into a physics based renderer.

I guess I can have them just use 2023, which I know functions.

[animatewithabhay]

@pdurette

Maya Software is effectively deprecated, even if it hasn’t been officially labeled that way.

Starting with Maya 2025, Autodesk has clearly stopped actively maintaining or testing the Maya Software renderer. The issues you’re seeing (light linking, fog not working, black renders on macOS) are consistent with what others have reported and aren’t user error. Bug fixes for Maya Software are no longer a priority, and regressions are unlikely to be addressed.

Stick with Maya 2023 or earlier if you want to continue using Maya Software in a predictable way

Switch to Arnold from the start, but introduce it in a simplified, non-physical way at first (basic lights, materials, samples kept simple).