The same - another "alpha" here. It is sad to see Maxwell stagnation. I see it now this way: Juan Canada - main developer left (
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juancanadagarcia ). New software from NextLimit appeared - Roombox, Anyverse ... Especially Anyverse is the software where NL focus energy. Because it is future and new ground where NL could be commercially successful. So Maxwell is now as good and developed as it is good enough for Anyverse and Roombox. Roombox with subscription licensing and denoise speeded up algorythms doesn`t need Maxwell to be better. Maxwell is still to be catched by another engines. Corona is now presenting their caustic solver as something revolutionary new and as a future standard as was global illumination back in days of direct illumination and coloured ambient light and soft shadows. Maxwell got it as standard since 2004. And I can go on with other engines. But one day they will outgrow Maxwell for sure as other engines outgrowed for example Lightscape.
Maybe NL will sell Maxwell to Autodesk or to some other company. I see evolution of softwares these days this way: free startup project (graduation thesis, enthusiast programer project) - paid version - subcription system or selling to bigger company (or both). Problem with Maxwell is that it has long development cycles for standard licensing system and also it has too much supported softwares and platformes. Supporting so much softwares that are also developing faster is difficult. Back in old days it wasnt even "fire" in those plugins, so it was much easier. So result of this was premature V4 edition, V4 new licensing system for just one plugin, paid advanced support.
I can understand all of this, but I will welcome to see some of head developers or Victor to write some words here on old forum. Because if there is some uncertainty, people will always start to imagine the worst possibility.
I love Maxwell, that`s why I am still here. I hope Victor and people at NL will catch second wind with Maxwell. I also like you - people here on the forum, especially those, who put a lot of ideas, creativity and energy to make Maxwell to be so attractive.
Patrik
P.S. I am still waiting for Rhinoceros 6 MWR V4 plugin and for V3 and V4 using at the same time (doesn`t work now).