One of the top 3 requested 3ds Max Ideas site items is now complete with the addition of Bifröst Fluids which was previously only available for Maya.

Tutorial: 3ds Max Fluids Part 1 - Basic Setup

Read an overview of 3ds Max 2018.3 at the Autodesk’s AREA blog.

Fluids:

• Fluids allow you to create fluid simulations directly inside 3ds Max using Bifrost technology.
• Read/create BIF files for direct interoperability with Maya.
• Save/create presets based on viscosity, giving the illusion of different fluid types (honey, water, jelly, etc.).
• Read/open VDB files.
• Dynamically create meshes based on the simulation, which can be processed at the same time or independently.
• Outputs mesh to Alembic so you can play anywhere Alembic is supported or have faster playback.

Motion Field:

• The Motion Field space warp works with Fluids, 3ds Max's particle systems, and deforms meshes.
• Combines multiple forces that would have had to be done separately previously, such as drag, wind, and gravity.
• Ability to turn specific components on/off as needed.

New Arnold release:

• See the Arnold (MAXtoA) release notes for detailed information.
• Compatible with Fluids.
• Update to Arnold 5.0.1.3
• Polymeshes can be volume containers.
• Global AOV shaders exposed.
• Indirect AOV checkbox added to skydome light.
• RGBA (beauty) AOV now allowed.
• Indirect Sample Clamp and Indirect Specular Blue exposed in rendering options.
• Iridescence (thin film) section added to the Standard Surface shader.
• Normal Map shader exposes a strength parameter.
• Coat built-in AOVs added.
• Improved mesh light sampling.
• Shaper quad and disk light spread.
• Up to 2x faster BVH build.
• Support for point cloud objects.
• min_pixel_width added to the Arnold property modifier.
• "Skip License Check" renamed "Render with Watermarks."
• Scene information added as metadata when exported to .ass file.
• OIO upgraded to 1.7.15.
• OSL upgraded to 1.9.0.
• New CLM license.

Subscribers can download Update 3: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/downloads