In previous versions, Maya supported USD largely through plugins. In Maya 2022, USD support has been folded directly into the core architecture.
The shift from Maya 2020 to Maya 2022 was not just a numerical jump; it represented a strategic refinement. Autodesk skipped version 2021 in many naming conventions (opting for a 2020.4 update) to align with a new release cadence. Consequently, arrived packed with features that had been baking in the pipeline for nearly two years. autodesk maya 2022
If you are transitioning from an older version, note the following about : In previous versions, Maya supported USD largely through
A new Ghosting Editor allows animators to visualize movement spacing over time, making it easier to refine poses and timing. Autodesk skipped version 2021 in many naming conventions
By implementing Sweep Mesh, Proxy Assembly (for large scene management), and Offset Parent Matrix, they have reduced the friction between the artist’s intention and the software’s execution.
This reduces the "guesswork" phase of lighting and texturing. Instead of constantly hitting render to check if a texture looks right, the viewport provides a high-fidelity representation, significantly speeding up the iteration process.