Brands
Apple acquires MotionVFX to power up Final Cut Pro tools
Deal brings pro-grade VFX plugins into Apple’s creator suite
CALIFORNIA: Apple has strengthened its push into the creator economy with the acquisition of MotionVFX, a Warsaw-based studio renowned for its high-end plugins and motion graphics for Final Cut Pro.
The move underscores Apple’s ambition to deepen its hold on professional editing workflows and take on rivals such as Adobe by bringing premium visual effects tools in-house. The deal was announced on 16 March 2026.
In a statement, MotionVFX said it was “extremely excited” to join Apple, highlighting a shared focus on quality, simplicity and design. For a company that has spent over 15 years building tools beloved by editors, the pairing feels less like a takeover and more like a creative alignment.
Around 70 employees from MotionVFX will join Apple, bringing with them expertise in plugins that many editors already rely on. These include cinematic colour grading tool mFilmLook, 3D engine mO2, and a template-driven design studio extension.
The acquisition also strengthens Apple’s recently launched Apple Creator Studio subscription, priced at $12.99 per month, which bundles Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and Pixelmator Pro. By integrating MotionVFX tools, Apple adds serious creative firepower without inflating the price.
For creators, this could mean fewer add-ons and more built-in magic. Advanced tracking, 3D titles and polished transitions may soon feel native rather than optional extras.
There is also growing buzz around the iPad Pro. With MotionVFX in the fold, Apple could finally bring richer animation and motion graphics capabilities to Final Cut Pro on iPad, an area that has long lagged behind its desktop counterpart.
While MotionVFX tools currently support platforms like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro, industry watchers expect Apple to prioritise its own ecosystem going forward. That could mean exclusive features for Mac and iPad users, and a gradual shift away from competitors.
For now, the MotionVFX marketplace remains active and existing plugins continue to work as usual. Longer-term plans, however, are still under wraps.
Apple’s latest move is not just an acquisition, it is a statement. By owning both the software and the tools that elevate it, the company is building an end-to-end creative playground. For editors, filmmakers and even casual creators, the line between professional and accessible just got a little thinner.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
