At NAB 2026, where real-time workflows continue to evolve at a rapid pace, Disguise’s latest hardware release, the GX 3+, feels less like an incremental upgrade and more like a statement about where high-end virtual production and live playback are headed next.

Getting hands-on with the GX 3+ in a demo environment, the first thing that stands out isn’t just raw power, it’s headroom. This is a system clearly designed not just for today’s demands, but for the increasingly complex, GPU-heavy workflows that are quickly becoming standard across virtual production, XR stages, and large-scale live events.

At its core, the GX 3+ is built to handle uncompressed, high-resolution playback and real-time rendering simultaneously. In practice, that means driving multiple 4K outputs, or higher, while also supporting real-time engines like Unreal without compromising performance. For productions blending pre-rendered plates with live, interactive content, that balance is critical.

What becomes apparent quickly is how much strain modern workflows place on hardware. Between LED volumes, camera tracking, real-time compositing, and multi-layer playback, systems are being asked to do more than ever before. The GX3+ addresses this head-on with upgraded GPU performance and increased system bandwidth, giving operators more flexibility to push content without constantly managing technical limitations.

In the demo, playback remains smooth and responsive even under heavy loads. Complex scenes, layered content, and high-bitrate media all run without visible hiccups. That reliability is key, not just for virtual production stages, but for live events where there’s no margin for error.

Another important aspect is how the GX 3+ fits into Disguise’s broader ecosystem. It’s not a standalone box, it’s part of a tightly integrated workflow that includes Designer software, RenderStream, and cloud-based collaboration tools. That integration allows teams to move seamlessly between pre-production, programming, and live operation, with the GX3+ acting as the playback and processing backbone.

For virtual production, this translates into more responsive environments and tighter synchronization between real and virtual elements. For live events, it means more ambitious visuals, higher resolutions, and the ability to adapt content in real time without sacrificing stability.

There’s also a clear emphasis on scalability. Whether it’s a single system driving a smaller installation or multiple GX 3+ units working in sync across a large LED volume or arena show, the platform is designed to expand alongside the production. That flexibility is increasingly important as projects grow in both size and technical complexity.

What’s notable is that Disguise isn’t just chasing higher specs for their own sake. The GX 3+ feels targeted at very real bottlenecks that operators encounter in the field: GPU constraints, playback bandwidth, and the challenge of combining real-time and pre-rendered content into a cohesive pipeline.

If there’s a takeaway from seeing the GX 3+ at NAB this year, it’s that the expectations for real-time content have fundamentally shifted. Higher resolutions, more interactivity, and tighter integration between departments are no longer edge cases; they’re becoming the norm.

The GX 3+ doesn’t just keep up with those demands—it gives productions room to go further.

And in an environment where creative ambition is often limited by technical ceilings, that extra headroom may be the most important feature of all.

The GX 3+ is powering the MOVIN Booth at NAB 2026 in Central Hall. Make sure to swing by and see the interactive demonstration!