If you work with DAZ Studio, you have probably asked the same question many artists are debating today: Should you keep using Genesis 8 or move to Genesis 9?

Both generations are powerful, widely used, and supported by thousands of assets. But they serve slightly different purposes depending on your workflow, library, and artistic goals.

In this guide we’ll break down the key differences between Genesis 8 Female / Genesis 8 Male and Genesis 9, and help you decide which one is the best choice for your renders in 2025.

Why Genesis 8 Is Still Extremely Popular

Even though Genesis 9 is the newest figure generation, Genesis 8 remains one of the most widely used character systems in DAZ Studio.

There are several reasons for this.

Massive Asset Library

Genesis 8 has been around for years, which means the ecosystem is enormous:

• Characters
• Clothing
• Hair
• Poses
• Expressions
• Morph packs

Artists can choose from tens of thousands of compatible assets, making it easy to build scenes quickly.

Many stores — including specialized marketplaces like 3DShards — still release new content for Genesis 8 because the demand remains strong.

Stable and Well-Tested

Genesis 8 is extremely stable because it has been used in production workflows for years. Artists know how it behaves, how to fix common issues, and how to kitbash assets easily.

For hobbyists and illustrators, reliability and compatibility often matter more than cutting-edge features.

What Makes Genesis 9 Different

Genesis 9 introduced a number of structural improvements.

Unified Figure System

One of the biggest changes is that Genesis 9 uses a single base figure instead of separate male and female bases.

This means:

• Morphs can mix more easily
• Characters can be more diverse
• Assets can be shared across genders

Improved Rigging and Expressions

Genesis 9 also improved several technical systems:

• facial expressions
• muscle deformation
• joint bending
• HD morph compatibility

These upgrades allow artists to create more realistic close-ups and expressive portraits.

Future-Focused Development

Most new official tools and technologies inside DAZ Studio are now being designed with Genesis 9 in mind. Over time, the ecosystem around it will continue to grow.

The Biggest Practical Question: Asset Compatibility

For most artists, the real decision comes down to asset compatibility.

If your library already contains hundreds of Genesis 8 items:

• clothing
• characters
• morph packs
• poses

then switching entirely to Genesis 9 may slow down your workflow.

While converters exist, they are rarely perfect, and manual adjustments are often required.

That’s why many experienced DAZ artists continue to use Genesis 8 for everyday rendering.

When Genesis 9 Is the Better Choice

Genesis 9 shines in several situations:

• Creating new character systems from scratch
• High-detail portrait rendering
• Projects focused on maximum realism
• Artists who want to future-proof their workflow

If you are starting a brand-new asset library, Genesis 9 is a strong investment.

When Genesis 8 Is Still the Smart Choice

Genesis 8 remains ideal for:

• Artists with large existing libraries
• Fast scene building
• Kitbashing multiple assets together
• Marketplace compatibility

Many independent stores and creators still support Genesis 8 heavily because of its huge user base.

The Best Strategy: Use Both

In reality, most experienced DAZ Studio artists don’t choose only one generation.

Instead they:

• keep using Genesis 8 for large scenes and asset compatibility
• use Genesis 9 for new characters and high-detail renders

This hybrid workflow allows artists to take advantage of both ecosystems.

Final Thoughts

The debate between Genesis 8 Female / Genesis 8 Male and Genesis 9 is not really about which one is better.

It’s about which one fits your workflow.

Genesis 8 offers an enormous library and unmatched compatibility.
Genesis 9 brings modern rigging, improved realism, and future development.

For many DAZ artists in 2025, the best answer is simple:

Use the strengths of both generations to create better art.

Many of 3D SHARDS products supports BOTH G8 and G9