Solving the Creative Iteration Challenge
When developers and animators talk about motion capture performance, they’re not just asking about resolution or technical specs, they want to know how the tech solves real problems. And for most creators, that problem is speed. Whether it’s testing early concepts or refining detailed scenes, creative iteration is key to making great work.
That’s exactly the challenge Vicon set out to solve with its markerless system. Developed in close collaboration with studios and performers, the system supports faster workflows, more intuitive operation, and a seamless integration into existing pipelines. As David “Ed” Edwards, VFX Product Manager at Vicon, put it during the GDC showcase:
“The best games and films are the result of countless creative iterations. You need to test ideas, evolve them, and bring them to life early in the process. Markerless mocap helps teams do exactly that.”
At GDC 2025, Vicon unveiled its latest innovation: a markerless motion capture solution built for the unique demands of the VFX and gaming industries. This new system, designed with real-world users in mind, is already transforming how creatives iterate, test, and polish their ideas, putting rapid prototyping and creative freedom at the forefront of mocap performance.
One Actor, One Click, Full Performance
During the GDC 2025 presentation, Vicon showcased how simple it is to begin a capture. Victor, a performance capture artist, not a mocap specialist, calibrated the system, captured a take, and reviewed the playback entirely on his own, with no need for markers or technical support. In under five minutes, Victor had:
- Created a subject profile
- Performed a motion capture
- Reviewed and reprocessed his performance
- Enhanced and cleaned the data
- Exported the take, ready for Unreal Engine or other workflows
The entire process happened in real-time, with no cloud processing delays. This makes markerless mocap ideal for rapid prototyping, giving creators instant feedback on their performance.
Hybrid Power: Props, Cameras, and Characters
Vicon’s system also supports hybrid motion capture. In the same session, Victor used props tracked with optical markers, allowing for accurate physical interactions, and combined them seamlessly with his markerless body performance. The result? A full-body performance including realistic prop handling, all tracked within the same coordinate space.
And it doesn’t stop there. With Shōgun’s integration to Unreal Engine 5 via the Live Link plugin, users can preview scenes in real-time, directly within the game environment. Lighting, character models, and camera angles can all be tested live, bringing cinematic previsualization into the mocap stage.
“In just a few clicks, creatives can see what a scene will look like in the final game environment, long before any optical shoot.”
Designed for Everyone
Vicon designed this system for both mocap pros and newcomers. Because it integrates directly with Shōgun Post, existing Vicon users don’t need to learn new tools or change their workflows. This lowers the barrier to entry and empowers performers, animators, and directors to jump straight into performance capture.
The newly launched Vicon Vanguard camera, introduced during the demo, is tailor-made for markerless motion capture. It captures in real time at 60fps while saving full-resolution data at 120fps. That means creators can quickly reprocess files at double the resolution and framerate.
Bringing Ideas to Life, Faster
From solo performers testing storyboards to full teams experimenting with lighting and camera work, markerless mocap enables earlier and better collaboration. It empowers creatives to get on the same page, iterate more often, and refine faster, drastically cutting the time from concept to execution.
“This isn’t just about capturing data. It’s about enabling creative decisions earlier, giving teams the confidence to explore and innovate.”
Learn More
Whether you’re developing your next AAA title or experimenting with indie animation, Vicon is helping redefine what’s possible in mocap.
Explore how Vicon’s markerless motion capture technology can streamline your next project at vicon.com/markerless.