Pixologic has dashed the hopes of graphics designers worldwide by delaying the much anticipated ZBrush 4 until Q4 2009.  The original August release will instead see ZBrush 3.5.  ZBrush 3.5 has several new features regarding SubTool, displacement and normal map options, and high-definition geometry.  But they’ve saved one ace in the hole to mend our broken hopes:

ZBrush 3.5 will also include one of the still unannounced key features of ZBrush 4. We are very excited to include this very powerful and creative new feature in version 3.5, and are sure that you will be too! An introduction to this feature will be made available here, at ZBC, within the next couple of weeks.

The Windows version of 3.5 will be released by the end of August, followed by a release of the OSX version in September. Following the release of 3.5, we will continue to refine ZBrush 4 and its features (such as LightBoxand Spotlight) for release in the 4th Quarter of 2009.

ZBrush 3.5 and ZBrush 4 will be released as free upgrades to all registered users.

via ZBrushCentral – ***Announcing ZBrush 3.5 and GoZ for Windows and MacOSX.