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Vicon Shogun
Yarnton, Oxford, United Kingdom
What it is
Vicon Shōgun is Windows motion-capture software for visual-effects, virtual-production, and game-development workflows. The suite combines Shōgun Live, Shōgun Markerless, and Shōgun Post. Live provides real-time optical capture, finger solving, and direct retargeting and streaming to game engines. Markerless uses machine learning for real-time full-body tracking and can capture performers without markers alongside marked props. Post includes automatic gap filling, a gap list, character retargeting, Auto-Skeleton, and scripting with Python or HSL. Shōgun can track film and virtual cameras, calibrate SDI cameras, and provide live 3D overlays for AR/XR work. Vicon lists Unreal Engine Live Link and MotionBuilder plugins, plus support for Epic MetaHuman. Post supports USD and TRC, while retargeting can export character FBX. Release 1.21 supports 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11; Linux and macOS are unsupported. Pricing is available on request.
For and against
For
- Real-time optical capture and game-engine streaming
- Machine-learning markerless full-body tracking
- Post-production gap filling and retargeting
- Camera tracking and AR/XR overlays
- Standalone and network licensing options
Against
- Windows only; Linux and macOS unsupported
- Pricing requires contacting Vicon
- Firewall changes may be needed for connectivity
The verdict
Shōgun brings live capture, markerless tracking, camera workflows, and post-production into one Windows suite. Its feature set is aimed at professional production teams that need retargeting, tracking, and real-time output.
Who it suits
Shōgun suits creative professionals, studios, and creators working in visual effects, animation, virtual production, or games. It is intended for Windows 64-bit environments.
On the record
- Camera workflows
- Shōgun can track film and virtual cameras, calibrate SDI cameras, and support live 3D overlays for AR/XR workflows.vicon.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Company history
- Vicon says it officially began trading in 1984, while its original product reached the market in 1979.vicon.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Components
- The Shōgun suite includes Live, Markerless, and Post components.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- File formats
- Shōgun Post supports USD and TRC, and its retargeting pipeline can export to character FBX.vicon.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Vicon lists plugins and integrations for Unreal Engine, Unity, MotionBuilder, ROS 2, and LabVIEW.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Vicon describes Shōgun as designed for creative professionals working in visual effects and animation, and also highlights film, game, education, and production-service users.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- Vicon’s Shōgun licensing documentation describes standalone licenses tied to a PC or dongle, and network licenses tied to a license server with configurable seats.help.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- Vicon’s Shōgun licensing documentation describes standalone and network licenses, with network licenses available for one or more PCs on the same network.help.vicon.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Markerless capture
- Shōgun Markerless uses machine learning for real-time full-body tracking without suits or markers, and can capture unmarked performers alongside marked props.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Operating system
- The listed Shōgun 1.21 release supports 64-bit Windows 11 and Windows 10; Linux and macOS are marked unsupported.vicon.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Optical capture
- Shōgun Live captures optical motion in real time and can stream retargeted performances directly to game engines.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Platform support
- Vicon lists Shōgun 1.21 as 64-bit software for Windows 11 and Windows 10, with Linux and macOS marked unsupported.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Post-production
- Shōgun Post offers automatic gap filling, a gap list, retargeting to character FBX, Auto-Skeleton, and Python or HSL scripting.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Pricing
- The Shōgun page provides download links but does not state a price.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Shōgun is motion capture software for VFX, virtual production, and game development.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security and network setup
- Vicon’s Shōgun FAQ says its software documentation specifies turning off Windows Firewall for unobstructed camera and connectivity-device communication, and provides steps for allowing the app through the firewall when institutional protocols require it to remain on.vicon.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Vicon directs users to its support team for legacy software versions.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Unreal Engine
- Vicon’s Unreal Live Link plugin streams actors, props, cameras, lens distortion data, and timecode in real time.vicon.com · read 8 Oct 2026
