Adobe’s VR modeling tool, Substance 3D Modeler, is now available on Steam, bringing with it support for Valve’s Index headset and possibly others.

Adobe released 3D Modeler as part of its ‘Substance’ suite of applications last year. The application supports VR and non-VR modes. In VR, users can intuitively ‘sculpt’ 3D models to their liking, then pull them into the 2D mode for refinements and use with the rest of the Substance suite (or vice versa).

When the app first launched it only supported Meta VR headsets through the Oculus PC software. Now Substance 3D Modeler has launched on Steam, bringing official support for Valve Index and its controllers for the first time.

Ostensibly the app should work just fine through Steam on Meta headsets as well, and other SteamVR headsets may work with the app too, assuming users can create the correct bindings for their controllers (though Adobe is not claiming official support for any other headsets at this time). Sources tell us that official support for Vive wands could be coming in the future.

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Unlike Substance 3D Modeler bought through Adobe’s Creative Cloud platform (which is only offered as a subscription) the Steam version is a one-time purchase with updates promised through the end of 2023. Though priced regularly at $150, the Adobe is offering a limited time ‘introductory offer’ of $100 (30% discount) on Steam for the next two days.

As announced previously Adobe still expects to bring Substance 3D Modeler to Quest as a standalone application next year.

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Ben Lang
Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."

  • Is this similar to Medium, or is it more modelling focused and less sculpting focused?

    • David G

      It’s the successor to Medium — Facebook sold Medium to Adobe a while back, who I believe also hired the Medium team, who now develop this.

    • jiink

      Although there’s more tools useful for hard-surface sculpting, it’s still very similar to Medium and you won’t be modifying individual tris or quads

  • Foreign Devil

    Not sure if I should buy it on the Steam sale or wait for the Quest 2 version. If they are releasing for standalone Quest (Not PC Quest via link) I don’t see how it can run very smoothly on a smartphone chip and little RAM without major simplification and optimization.

    • Cless

      Buy the steam one, you can always use it on the Quest 2 later, but not the other way around.
      Also, as a professional 3D artist that has been using this tool since it came out years ago, the Quest version is going to suck HARD compared to the PC version.
      The CPU/GPU its using its way inferior to the 6 year old laptop I have, and that already struggles a bit when doing some heavier stuff. It must be absolutely horrible on the Quest unless you are doing very light and small stuff.

      • Foreign Devil

        Thanks. Yeah I figured as much.

      • Foreign Devil

        Also I’m glad there is a non monthly subscription option.

        • Cless

          Same, I was NOT going to get it for that reason alone. I saw it on steam and was an instant buy.

      • ViRGiN

        App is gonna suck for any real productivity regardless of the platform.

        • Cless

          What brings you to say that?

      • MeowMix

        ‘Quest support planned’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘Quest2’. It could mean QuestPro, Quest3, etc…

        As announced previously Adobe still expects to bring Substance 3D Modeler to Quest as a standalone application next year.

        Oculus Medium the OG 3D modeling program, which was acquired by Adobe, ran at the min specs for Rift. The rumored specs of Quest3 surpass the Rift min specs.

    • ViRGiN

      Do not ever get anything from Steam. It’s a super shady conglomerate, commemorating dead chinese communists, and not investing anything back into the ecosystem.
      You are going to change headset sooner than later to another Meta device. Valve never cared and never will care about VR.

  • ILoveQueens

    Adobe needs to work on a user interface prototyping tool. Integrate that with figma, which they bought, and create mixed reality prototyping and collaboration tool. Or just acquire ShapesXR.

  • Oh wow, at $100 it is really a steal :|