: Improved Fresnel modulation for realistic material viewing.
: Introduced hierarchical collections , making it easier to organize and control overrides in large projects. It also streamlined the process of adding lights to render layers by making them default additions. Maya 2017 Update 2
: You can now view environment map reflections directly in the viewport without complex Hypershade workarounds. : Improved Fresnel modulation for realistic material viewing
: Allows for more accurate reflectance at normal angles. : You can now view environment map reflections
Reviewers generally recommend Update 2 for its "quality of life" improvements, particularly for those using the renderer (which became Maya's default in 2017) as the viewport enhancements align closely with its shading parameters.
While the update aimed to stabilize Maya 2017, which some users found "buggy" early on, user reviews highlight a mix of relief and persistent issues.