FBX
The standard 3D exchange format for games
Also known as: .fbx · Filmbox · FBX export · FBX import
Definition
FBX is Autodesk's file format for exchanging 3D data between tools, and the standard way to move meshes, skeletons, skin weights and animations from Blender, Maya or 3ds Max into game engines such as Unreal and Unity. A single FBX can contain geometry, UVs, normals, smoothing, material slots, bones, animations and cameras, but it does not carry full materials or textures reliably, so those are set up in the engine.
In production
Export one asset per FBX where you can, apply transforms, check scale (Unreal uses 1 unit as 1 cm) and set smoothing and tangents explicitly. Most import problems are scale, axis, smoothing and missing skin weights, so test with a simple object first. FBX is proprietary, which is why glTF and USD are gaining ground, but it remains the default for game art pipelines.
Tools that use FBX
See also
glTF
Open standard for 3D delivery
USD (OpenUSD)
Scene description format for pipelines
Static Mesh
Non-deforming geometry asset in Unreal Engine
Skeletal Mesh
Skinned mesh driven by a skeleton
Faceted Shading After Import
Smooth mesh looks flat-shaded in the engine
Pivot Point
The origin a mesh transforms around
FBX Scale Problems in Unity
Models arrive 100 times too big or too small
Model Rotated After Import in Unity
Object lies on its side with a -90 rotation
Textures Missing After Exporting From Blender
Model arrives in the engine without its materials
Apply Scale in Blender
Fix stretched bevels and uneven modifier results
GoZ
One-click bridge between ZBrush and other programs
Maya FBX Scale for Unreal and Unity
Wrong model size after export from Maya
Animation Looks Different in the Engine
Motion plays differently than in Maya or Blender