A comparison of 3D asset management software for game art

TL;DR: 3D asset managers beat file sync (Dropbox/Google Drive) or VCS (Git LFS/Perforce) for game art by adding thumbnails, tags, and search. Top picks: 

• Anchorpoint (Git compatible VCS + management, desktop)
• Das element (VFX-focused)
• Perforce Helix DAM (web + Perforce)
• Echo 3D (cloud 3D)
• Eagle (tailored for designers)

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3D asset management software helps you organize your assets by providing thumbnail generation for each model and texture, quick search by tag or name, versioning of your files, and can be integrated into your pipeline if you use a specific engine or tool.

Why do I need an asset manager, a so-called DAM?

Imagine you have dozens, hundreds of assets on your hard drives, but because they were created over a long period of time, they were not properly organized and now they are hard to find and identify. With a 3D asset management software you can easily do this, especially with the presence of thumbnails and fast search.

For example, I had hundreds of small models for a game I had developed over the years. Some were old versions, some were new, and while they had some structure, with a 3D game asset management software I was able to organize all the assets into two main folders in half an hour, so I could focus on development and not spend time looking for a model I created two years ago.

Now think about working in a team where you cannot monitor what your team members have created. You need a proper folder structure or a tool that makes it easier to keep track of all the assets in your project.

Can’t I just use Dropbox, Google Drive, Git LFS or Perforce Helix Core for managing assets?

There is a vertical and horizontal method of organizing assets. Vertical is the file versioning, like a linear history per file and then based on the iteration you can organize working iterations. Horizontal is the other method of organizing assets by placing assets in specific folders, by tagging them with specific tags and by using asset search. 

Asset managers work both ways, while version control tools can usually only help you organize your iterations vertically.

• Dropbox, Google Drive can distribute files over the cloud, but don't have extensive versioning or organization (tagging, etc.) capabilities.
• Perforce Helix Core or Git LFS have versioning capabilities but are limited in organization features (tagging, thumbnails, etc.).

How to categorize 3D asset management tools?

Version control tools vs library tools

Version control tools are used for working files where you do a lot of iteration, such as your props, characters, and any active assets you work on for your game.

Library tools are used to organize asset packs, assets from previous projects, basically anything that sits on the shelf and will be reused later.

Web Browser based vs Desktop based

Web browser based tools make it easier to share your files with stakeholders such as marketing or external clients.

Desktop applications can work with your local files, making it easy to batch upload/download and manage file versions.

Although tools like Dropbox and Git LFS handle basic storage, dedicated 3D asset managers like Anchorpoint are better suited for game art teams. They combine versioning, artist-friendly tagging and searching, and file locking to prevent lost work, making them the top choice for Git integration over web-only or library-focused alternatives.

Solutions

Although we are the developers of Anchorpoint, we will also provide you below Pros and Cons comparison of other similar software you might like.

1) Anchorpoint

Anchorpoint is a version control solution and asset manager for artists. It is used in game development, animation, and any other real-time project.

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Cons

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2) Das element

Das element is a 3d asset management software that helps you to manage and organize your VFX asset library, a good tool to manage your visual effects elements.

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Cons

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3) Perforce Helix DAM

Perforce Helix DAM is an web application that integrates with Perforce version control.

Pros

Cons

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4) Echo 3D

Echo 3D is a 3D-focused cloud platform and API for storing, securing and sharing 3D models and scans in real time across organizations.

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Cons

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5) Eagle (eagle.cool)

With Eagle, you can collect, search, and organize your images and design files all in one place.

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Cons

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Frequently asked questions

Why is version control important?

Version control is the practice of monitoring and managing changes made to software code. This enables multiple team members to collaborate on a project without the risk of overwriting one another's contributions. Additionally, version control keeps a full record of all changes, making it simple for developers to revert to earlier versions when necessary.

How does Anchorpoint improve asset discoverability for artists and designers?

Anchorpoint provides a high-performance asset browser that allows you to find project files through tagging and advanced search. You can organize assets "horizontally" with custom tags and descriptions, or use AI-powered auto-tagging to automatically identify and categorize 3D models, textures, and sprites.

What sets Anchorpoint's asset management apart from a conventional digital asset manager (DAM)?

Most traditional DAM systems are web-based platforms built for marketing teams to store finished JPEGs or PDFs. In contrast, Anchorpoint is a desktop solution built for the production pipeline. It manages "raw" working files (like .blend, .psd, or .fbx) and integrates them directly into the development workflow. 

Can an asset manager track my tasks?

Some can, but only to a limited extent. In this case, it's worth looking at a dedicated project management application such as Jira, Codex or Notion.

Is an 3D asset manager also a backup solution?

Not really. An asset manager can be integrated with backup solutions such as Backblaze. If you're using Anchorpoint, Perforce, Git or Dropbox to host your files online, you more or less have a backup built in, but in general it's good practice to use an extra layer of security with dedicated backup software.

Where to learn more

• A proper guide to game asset management https://www.anchorpoint.app/blog/a-proper-guide-to-game-asset-management
• Tips & Tricks for managing art assets: https://www.anchorpoint.app/blog/tips-tricks-for-managing-art-assets-p1
• ‍Remote workflows for creative teams: https://www.anchorpoint.app/blog/media-asset-management-for-3d-projects‍